WHO expert: COVID Delta strain may spread in South Caucasus

There is a very high likelihood of spread of the Delta strain of coronavirus into the South Caucasus, Catherine Smallwood, senior emergency officer at the WHO Regional Office for Europe, told Report.

She said the Delta strain is rapidly replacing other variants of the coronavirus across the region, in Western European countries, in Russia and several countries in Central Europe.

“And we are likely to see that occurring in Central Asia, but also in the South Caucasus. So, there is a high likelihood and countries should be preparing for that right now," the expert said.

Smallwood also noted that in Azerbaijan there has been “a very solid response to surges in the past and that needs to be continued.”