France Warns COVID-19 Fourth Wave Could Hit By July End

Coronavirus: A fourth wave of infections is "a possibility" by the end of July in France as several countries, including Britain and Russia, have already seen alarming jumps in new cases because of the variant, which was first identified in India.

France could see a new spike in Covid cases by the end of July due to the spread of the more contagious Delta variant of the virus, the government spokesman said Monday. "Over the past week the epidemic is again gaining ground," Gabriel Attal told France Inter radio, with the Delta variant now accounting for 30 percent of new infections in the country. A fourth wave of infections is "a possibility" by the end of this month, he said, echoing a warning issued by Health Minister Olivier Veran late Sunday. Several countries, including Britain and Russia, have already seen alarming jumps in new cases because of the variant, which was first identified in India.