News & Perspective

In another development, the WHO announced the next phase of a treatment trial, which will test three repurposed drugs across 52 countries.

Stubbornly high levels persist in nations including Thailand and Vietnam as Delta variant activity keeps countries on edge, from Australia to China.

About 500,000 cases are being added to the global total each day, and the Delta variant is now in 135 countries.

The global total nears 200 million cases, led by surges in Asia and the Middle East.

Meanwhile, Indonesia says it is past its peak, though test positivity remains high, as is the threat to more rural areas. 

Meanwhile, Africa's vaccine supply show improvements, and Delta-driven surges increase in parts of Asia and the Middle East.

The WHO projects that, at the current pace, global cases could reach 200 million in the next 2 weeks.

"This is an absolute travesty, because we can prevent deaths. Think this pandemic is over? Think again."

In other developments, cases surge in Asia's hot spots, and infections continue to climb sharply in Europe.

Multiple groups call for addressing major global vaccine inequality issues.