Covid19: WHO chief Tedros says world in the early stages of 'third wave'

"Unfortunately...we are now in the early stages of a third wave", he said.

Social mobility and inconsistent use of proven measures to control the spread of Covid-19 along with the presence of more transmissible Delta variant is causing more coronavirus cases as well as deaths.

Tedros said the virus continues to evolve giving rise to more infectious variants.

"The Delta variant is now in more than 111 countries and we expect it to soon be the dominant COVID-19 strain circulating worldwide if it isn't already," he said.

Covid-19 cases surged for four consecutive weeks across the globe, with increases recorded in all but one of WHO's six regions.

The WHO chief also drew the attention of the Emergency Committee on COVID-19 toward the "shocking disparity" in the global distribution of vaccines as well as the life saving tools to fight the pandemic, according to UN news.

Consequent to vaccine inequity, a two track pandemic has emerged, one with the greatest access to vaccines, who are lifting restrictions and reopening their societies, and a second track for those without vaccines access who are left "at the mercy of the virus."

He said many countries haven't received any vaccines and there are many others who don't have enough.

He repeated his appeal to vaccinate at least 10 per cent of the population of every country by September, at least 40 per cent by the end of 2021, and at least 70 per cent by mid-2022.

Full array of available public health and social measures along with comprehensive risk management to mass gatherings are necessary together with vaccination.

"So many countries around the world have shown that this virus can be stopped and contained with these measures," he stressed.