WHO says Indian coronavirus variant officially recorded in 53 territories

According to details, the global health organization has received information from unofficial sources that the B.1.617 variant has been found in seven other territories, taking the total to 60.

The report said B.1.617 variant is highly contagious, while disease severity and risk of infection were under investigation.

Globally over the past week, the number of new cases and deaths showed a downward trend, with around 4.1 million new cases and 84,000 new deaths reported — a 14 per cent and two per cent decrease respectively compared to the previous week.