The World Health Organization reports that there were nearly three million coronavirus cases globally last week, a 10% increase that was accompanied by a three percent rise in deaths, reversing a nine-week trend of declining COVID-19 incidence, and in some place representing a doubling of daily case counts
In its weekly report issued on Wednesday, the UN health agency says the highest numbers of new cases were from Brazil, India, Indonesia, and the United Kingdom. WHO says the easier-to-spread delta variant has now been identified in 111 countries since first being detected in India and it expects the variant to become globally dominant in coming months.
WHO says more transmissible versions of COVID-19 could emerge and “coupled with the relaxation and inappropriate use of public health and social measures and increased social mobility and mixing,” numerous countries would see higher cases, hospitalizations, and deaths.
The organization acknowledged many countries are now facing “considerable pressure” to lift all remaining COVID-19 restrictions but warned that “improper planning or assessment of the risk of transmission during any gathering or travel provides opportunity for the virus to spread.”
Some of the latest lowlights:
• Confirmed infections in the US climbed to an average of about 23,600 a day on Monday, up from 11,300 on June 23, representing a doubling daily case count over the past three week. All but two states — Maine and South Dakota — reported that case numbers have gone up over the past two weeks.
• Daily coronavirus deaths in Russia continue to hit record-highs this week, with a record 786 deaths reported on Wednesday. Daily new infections have soared from around 9,000 in early June to more than 25,000 last week.
• Indonesia reported more than 54,000 new coronavirus cases and almost 1,000 deaths for the first time Wednesday, surpassing India to become Asia’s new virus hotspot. A month ago, daily cases were running at about 8,000.
• Coronavirus infections, driven by the delta variant among the young, have almost doubled over the past week in Belgium, raising concerns that the summer could see a return of more restrictions.
• South Korea has confirmed 1,615 new COVID-19 patients, a new domestic record for daily cases.
• Sydney, Australia’s 5 million people will remain locked down until at least July 30, two weeks longer than had been planned after 97 new infections were reported latest 24-hour period.