A coronavirus variant first discovered in India has been detected in at least 17 countries, according to the World Health Organization, as it reported a weekly record for global cases.

Scientists are monitoring the B.1.6.1.7 variant, which was identified in India in December, and its sub-lineages, as the country experiences a massive upswing in cases.

However, there is little concrete evidence that the variant’s virulence and transmissibility alone are responsible for the outbreaks, scientists said as other factors are also at play.

India has recorded six consecutive days of more than 300,000 new cases

“Preliminary modelling by WHO based on sequences submitted to [the] GISAID [global database] suggest that B.1.617 has a higher growth rate than other circulating variants in India, suggesting potential increased transmissibility, with other co-circulating variants also demonstrating increased transmissibility.,” the WHO said in its weekly update.

The agency cautioned that other drivers of the spread might include insufficient adherence to social-distancing measures and mass cultural and religious gatherings. 

The bulk of cases of the variant were found in India, the UK, US and Singapore.

Countries have moved to block flights from India in efforts to prevent the spread of the variant. 

Global coronavirus cases climbed for the ninth consecutive week to the highest seven-day tally of the pandemic, the report said, with 5.7m new infections.

Infections fell 8 per cent in the Americas and cases in Europe fell 12 per cent.