The coronavirus pandemic is now in the “early stages” of the third wave, said World Health Organization (WHO) chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on Wednesday, as there is a global surge in cases of the Delta variant of the coronavirus. “Unfortunately, we are now in the early stages of a third wave”, he said in an approach to the emergency committee on Covid-19 built under the International Health Regulations (IHR).

“The Delta variant is now spread in more than 111 countries, and we expect it to be the powerful Covid-19 strain soon spreading worldwide if it isn’t already,” a UN report quoted WHO Chief Ghebreyesus as saying. Vaccination against Covid-19 is essential but not alone that will not stop the virus, the global health body said, saying that countries need to undertake a “comprehensive risk management approach to mass gatherings”, updated guidance for which was recently issued by WHO.

Besides, there is also a “shocking difference” in the global shipping of Covid-19 vaccines, Ghebreyesus added. This difference has resulted in countries taking different strategies to battle the pandemic, resulting in a ‘two-track pandemic’. Countries with access to vaccines are raising restrictions and resuming their societies, and those without vaccines are left with the mercy of the virus.