PARIS: The Delta variant of COVID-19 (coronavirus) first found in India now represents some 20 percent of COVID-19 cases in France, French health minister Olivier Veran told France Info radio, up from last week’s estimate of it representing 9-10 percent of cases.

“The Delta variant now accounts for about 20 percent of new cases (...) its share keeps on increasing in percentage not in absolute terms as the total number of cases is decreasing,” Veran said.

Only 509 new confirmed cases were reported on Monday and the seven-day moving average of daily additional infections fell to 1,819, an almost 10-month low, versus an 14 April peak of 42,225.

“(The Delta variant) is gradually becoming dominant, as it does in all countries in the world, as it is more contagious,” Veran said.

Germany said on Monday that new COVID-19 cases caused by the Delta variant had more than doubled over a week and its spread all over the world has led some countries to reimpose some restrictions on travel.