The head of the World Health Organization says the world is passing a very dangerous period of the COVID-19 pandemic as nearly 100 countries have detected highly contagious Delta variant.
At a press briefing on Friday, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the Delta variant, first found in India, is continuing to evolve and mutate, reports UNB.
"It is becoming the predominant COVID-19 virus in many countries," he said.
“I have already urged leaders across the world to ensure that by this time next year, 70 per cent of all people in every country are vaccinated,” he said, adding that would effectively end the acute phase of the pandemic.
He noted that 3.0 billion doses of vaccines were distributed already.
"It’s within the collective power of a few countries to step up and ensure that vaccines are shared," he added.
Of the vaccine doses given globally, fewer than 2 per cent have been in poorer countries.
Although rich countries including Britain, the US, France and Canada have pledged to donate 1.0 billion COVID-19 vaccines, WHO estimates 11.0 billion doses are needed to immunise the world.