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While overall global coronavirus cases and deaths rates haveĀ declined,Ā withĀ someĀ countries reopening,Ā severalĀ regions are experiencing escalating emergenciesĀ that warrantĀ attentionĀ and action.Ā With theĀ Delta variantĀ increasingĀ infection ratesĀ and the possibility for additional variants to emergeĀ amongĀ billionsĀ ofĀ unvaccinatedĀ people. ā€œIf we look at the facts and science, it’s evident that we are sitting on a new COVID-19Ā timeĀ bomb. While we celebrate declining cases and deaths in some parts of the world that are getting vaccinated and taking control measures seriously, most regions remain either at high risk or in full-blown emergency mode. As public health experts have long been predicting, new variants of the COVID-19 virus will likely emerge that are more infectious, make patients sicker, and potentially render our new vaccines less effective.Ā ā€œThe Delta variant is now surging ahead wherever control measures or vaccination supply and/or services are weak, doubling every two weeks in theĀ United States.Ā It is highly contagiousĀ and on a pathwayĀ to becoming the predominant strain. This puts many populations in a precarious position.Ā A variant anywhere is a variant everywhere.Ā