A highly transmissible variant of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) is now rapidly spreading across the globe, causing more stringent curbs in some countries and derailing lockdown plans of others.
The Delta variant, first detected in India, has been listed as ‘variant of concern’ by the World Health Organization (WHO).
The Delta variant has the following effects on the world:
- After detecting the Delta variant of Covid-19, the Zimbabwean government announced a two-week localised lockdown for Hurungwe and Kariba districts on Saturday. More than 40 cases have been reported in the last three days, according to the government.
- Due to an increase in cases of the Delta variant of Covid-19, the UK government is considering delaying all lockdown restrictions for up to four weeks beyond the scheduled end date of June 21. Infections from the variant increased by nearly 30,000 in a week, according to Public Health England (PHE).
- Last week, the WHO’s Europe director warned that the highly transmissible variant is “on the verge of taking hold in the region.” The Delta variant has shown signs of being able to evade some vaccines, according to WHO’s Dr Hans Kluge, who warned that many vulnerable populations, particularly those over 60, remain unprotected.
- France is rushing to contain the more dispersed cases of Covid-19’s Delta variant. France, according to the country’s health minister, Olivier Veran, has multiple clusters of the variant, particularly in the southwest Landes region.
- On the same day, a top Sri Lankan health official announced that the Delta variant had been discovered in the island nations. That variant was discovered in one person from a quarantine facility, according to Dr Chandima Jeewandara, Director of the University of Sri Jayewardenepura’s Department of Immunology and Molecular Medicine. Since April, there has been an increase in Covid-19 positive cases and deaths in Sri Lanka.
- Since May 21, more than 100 cases of local transmission have been reported in Guangzhou, China. Doctors believe the more contagious Delta variant is to blame for the cases in Guangzhou.
- According to a recent study conducted by the All India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS) in New Delhi, the presence of the Delta variant is common even after receiving a single dose or both doses of the Covid-19 vaccine. A total of 63 people were included in the study who had developed breakthrough infections. Sixty-six patients received two doses of vaccine, while the remaining 27 received only one dose.
