Srinagar, Aug. 10 -- If you believe that Covid-19 is no longer a concern or that its impact has diminished, think again. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that the percentage of positive tests has been increasing across 84 countries in recent weeks.

The UN health agency is also warning that more severe variants of the coronavirus may soon be on the horizon.

"Covid-19 is still very much with us," and circulating in all countries, Dr Maria Van Kerkhove of WHOtold journalists in Geneva.

"Data from our sentinel-based surveillance system across 84 countries reports that the percent of positive tests for SARS-CoV-2 has been rising over several weeks," she said. "Overall, test positivity is above 10 per cent, but this fluctuates per...