Olympics sees 40-plus Covid cases as global figures rise: WHO

GENEVA, Aug 06 (AFP): More than 40 athletes at the 2024 Paris Olympics have tested positive for Covid-19 highlighting a new global rise in cases, the World Health Organization said Tuesday.

The WHO said the virus behind the Covid-19 pandemic was still circulating and countries need to sharpen up their response systems. Several high profile athletes have suffered from Covid-19 at the Paris Games.

British swimmer Adam Peaty tested positive a day after winning silver in the 100m breaststroke when he had not felt well, his team said. Australian medal hope Lani Pallister pulled out of the women's 1500m freestyle after falling ill.

Data from 84 countries shows that the percentage of positive tests for SARS-CoV-2 -- the virus that causes Covid-19 disease -- "has been rising for several weeks", said Maria Van Kerkhove, the WHO's epidemic and pandemic preparedness and prevention director.

Furthermore, wastewater surveillance -- which tends to give a two-to-three-week advance indication on case numbers -- suggests that circulation of SARS-CoV-2 is "two to 20 times higher than what is currently being reported", she told a media briefing.