Global Covid cases increase after 7-week fall, deaths top 4mn

Aditi Tandon

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 8

After a decline in newly reported cases for seven consecutive weeks globally, there has been an increase in new weekly cases in the last two weeks with over 2.6 million cases reported last week, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said in its weekly update.

The number of weekly deaths continued to decrease, with just under 54,000 deaths reported last week, 7 per cent decrease as compared to previous week. Cumulative number of Covid cases reported globally exceeded 183 million and the number of deaths topped 4 million.

WHO analyses show India remained the second top contributor to global weekly new cases.

The highest numbers of new cases (3,64,709) came from Brazil showing 30 per cent decrease over the last week. It was followed by India (3,12,250 new cases, 11 per cent decrease), Colombia (2,04,556 new cases, not much change than last week), Indonesia (1,68,780 new cases, 35 per cent increase) and the United Kingdom (1,61,805 new cases, 67 per cent increase).

The WHO said, “Based on the estimated transmission advantage of Delta variant, it is expected that this variant will rapidly outcompete other variants and become the dominant circulating lineage globally over the coming months.”

Back home, Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya and his deputy Bharati Pawar, who took charge today, are staring at a possible emergence of the third wave as daily new cases rose for the second straight day after a decline for several days and active cases increased after a 55-day consistent fall.

New infections rose from 43,733 yesterday to 45,892 today and now stand at levels seen a week ago. The number of active cases stood at 4,60,704.

The government recently termed as “frightening” the gatherings in markets and hill stations and warned people against laxity amid predictions of a possible third wave.