Protesters hold up signs that read 'no to the vaccine passport' during a demonstration in Paris Photo: Michel Euler / APThousands of people have protested in Paris and other French cities against a mandatory coronavirus health pass for entry to a wide array of public venues, introduced by the government as it battles the fourth wave of infections.

Delta variant is as contagious as chickenpox and more contagious than the viruses that cause the common cold, the seasonal flu

According to an internal CDC report, infections of the Delta variant could be just as transmissible from breakthrough infections in vaccinated people as from the unvaccinated and could be more severe — with each infected person able to infect 8 to 9 others.

Tokyo reported 3,865 new cases in the past 24 hours, up from 3,177 on Wednesday and double the numbers a week ago.Japanese officials are sounding the alarm as Tokyo reports record-breaking coronavirus cases for the third straight day with the Olympics well underway. Tokyo reported 3,865 new cases in the past 24 hours, up from 3,177 on Wednesday and double the numbers a week ago.