The World Health Organization warned on Friday that the Delta variant of the coronavirus should be treated as a "warning" that necessitates intensified efforts to prevent the emergence of more dangerous mutations after it has caused new waves in several countries around the world. The organization confirmed that vaccinations are the "only magic solution" against the virus.
During a press conference in Geneva, WHO's emergency chief, Dr. Mike Ryan, stated that the Delta variant is a warning that tells us the virus is evolving, but it is also a call to action to do something before more dangerous forms of variants appear. Ryan also downplayed the consequences of the outbreak of the new variant, which has caused the deaths of more than 4 million people worldwide since it first spread in late 2019.
He explained that "the same measures we applied previously will stop this virus. They will stop the Delta variant, especially if we add vaccination to it," stressing the need to "work hard because the virus has become more aggressive and faster," along with the importance of maintaining effective protective measures.
According to Ryan, those infected with the Delta variant can spread the infection to a larger number of people "unless we stop it by continuing to implement measures that reduce transmission, such as social distancing, wearing masks, hand washing, and ensuring that we do not spend too much time with large numbers of people in poorly ventilated places."
He also noted that the astounding increase in the number of infections, often showing mild symptoms in vaccinated people, creates a sense of helplessness.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated during the conference's opening remarks, "On average, in five out of six regions of the organization, COVID-19 cases have increased by 80%, nearly doubling in the last four weeks." He added, "In Africa, during the same period, deaths increased by 80%."
The new figures will not change the organization's strategy, according to Ryan, who said it "remains in place but we must implement it more effectively than we have done so far, which also means delivering more vaccines." He emphasized that vaccines are the "only magic solution," pointing out that "the problem is we are not distributing them equally around the world," considering "we are working against ourselves."
The organization has repeatedly stressed for months that the best way to combat the pandemic is to urgently distribute vaccines worldwide, an endeavor that still remains elusive.
