WHO

Cases of the variant have popped up in several states. But neither the WHO nor the CDC considers it a variant of concern, and the fast-spreading delta variant continues to dominate U.S. cases.

Chinese officials say they cannot support a second phase of a study into the origins of the pandemic, including new investigation into the theory that the virus might have leaked from a Chinese lab.

The statement by World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus undermines a WHO report that concluded that a laboratory leak was “extremely unlikely.”

The pandemic has hurt even routine health services, like vaccines and checkups, as well as immunization outreach, for children around the world, the World Health Organization and UNICEF report.

More than 2.6 million new cases were reported between June 28 and July 4, a slight increase on the previous week, while the tally of deaths registered over the week declined 7% to 54,000.

WHO director Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the strain is continuing to evolve and mutate, and it is becoming the predominant COVID-19 virus in many countries.

Numerous experts, including some with strong ties to WHO, say that political tensions between the U.S. and China make any U.N.-led investigation impossible.

Dr. Rochelle Walensky says there are areas of low vaccination in the country where cases are rising, and in that situation, the CDC is suggesting that policies be made at the local level.

In the wake of heated debate over the unproven lab leak theory, the world is calling on China to cooperate with investigations. But efforts to delve into this matter seem to be stalling.

President Biden has ordered intelligence agencies to determine where the coronavirus originated, but China is bucking demands to let investigators see more. Can this probe lead to anything positive?