WHO Warns of ’High Probability’ for New, Potentially Dangerous COVID Variants

Variants "possibly more dangerous"? This is the hypothesis put forward by experts, specifying that there is a "high probability" of the emergence of these new variants of the coronavirus, which could also be "more difficult to control" than those already listed by the UN agency.

"The pandemic is far from over," they note in a statement, adding that "the pandemic remains a global challenge. Countries face different health, economic and social demands." They note that countries with advanced access to vaccines and well-resourced health systems are under pressure to fully reopen their societies, while countries with limited access to vaccines are experiencing new waves of infections.

"As a result, governments are making increasingly divergent policy decisions that cater to narrow national needs, preventing a harmonized global response," the same source observes.

For now, the WHO lists 4 variants of concern: Alpha, Beta, Gamma and Delta. The Delta variant, much more contagious than the others, is a little more resistant to vaccines, although they continue to provide good protection against the most severe forms of Covid-19 and deaths.