WHO: At the Olympic Games in Paris, 40 athletes tested positive for COVID-19

AUTHOR: M.J.
At the Olympic Games in Paris, more than 40 athletes have tested positive for Covid-19 and other respiratory diseases, the World Health Organization announced on Tuesday.
The WHO points out that there is a new global increase in cases as vaccination coverage declines.
The virus behind the pandemic is still circulating, the WHO warned, stating that countries must tighten their response systems and vaccinate the most vulnerable, reports AFP.
Several prominent athletes suffered from COVID-19 at the Olympics in Paris, among them British swimmer Adam Peaty, while Australian athlete Lani Pallister withdrew from the fight for a medal after falling ill.
"Covid-19 is still among us. The virus is circulating in all countries," said Maria Van Kerkhove, WHO Director of Epidemic and Pandemic Preparedness and Prevention.
Data from 84 countries show that the percentage of positive tests for the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which causes the disease COVID-19, "has been increasing for several weeks," she said at a press conference on Wednesday.
Maria Van Kerkhove said the virus continues to evolve and change.
"This puts us all at risk of a potentially more severe virus that could escape our detection and/or our medical interventions, including vaccination."
The AFP agency reminds that worldwide the rate of positive tests is over 10 percent, while in Europe the figure is over 20 percent.