The European Union's (EU) disease agency has said it is predicting a sharp increase in coronavirus cases, with nearly five times as many new infections by August 1, AFP reports.

In its coverage area — which includes the EU, Norway and Iceland — the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) expected to see 420 cases per 100,000 inhabitants for the week ending on August 1, up from just under 90 last week, it said in a weekly report.

By the week after, the number of new cases is expected to rise above 620 per 100,000 inhabitants.

“The current continuing deterioration of the epidemiological situation in many countries is expected to continue given the rapid increase in the Delta variant,” the ECDC said in the report.