In a fresh new report from the World Health Organization (WHO), over 40 athletes in Paris 2024 have tested positive for Covid-19 which highlights a new global rise in cases.

Surprisingly, the development from WHO comes a week after junior health minister Frederic Valletoux told broadcaster Franceinfo said that Covid-19 is at an all-time low in the country but “we’re not in a period with an explosion or strong return” of the virus.

The list of athletes who have tested positive for Covid-19 in Paris 2024, includes British swimmer Adam Peaty, whose reports came a day after she won a silver medal in the 100m breaststroke event while Australian medal hopeful Lani Pallister had pulled out of the Women’s 1500m freestyle after falling sick.

The first cases of Covid-19 were also found in the Australian contingent when the women’s polo team tested positive days before the start of the event. Protocols at the Paris 2024 Olympic Village include isolating from other team members outside of training and wearing masks.

As per data collected from 84 countries, the percentage of SARS-CoV-2 – the virus that causes COVID-19 disease – “has been rising for several weeks”, Maria Van Kerkhove, the WHO’s epidemic and pandemic preparedness and prevention director, said.

“This is significant because the virus continues to evolve and change, which puts us all at risk of a potentially more severe virus that could evade our detection and/or our medical interventions, including vaccination.”