Delta Variant of Covid-19 Now Dominant in the UK
Public Health England (PHE), which monitors all Covid variants in the country, said experts now believe that Delta Alpha has surpassed Alpha in the number of VOCs detected for the first time in the Kent region of England.
The Covid-19 delta variant, or highly transmissible problematic variant B1.617.2, first identified in India, has now become the predominant VOC in the United Kingdom and may be associated with an increased risk of hospitalization, according to British health authorities.
According to Public Health England (PHE), which tracks all Covid variants in the country, the number of Delta variant infections increased by 5,472 in one week to 12,431 on Thursday. The latest statistics lead experts to conclude that Delta is now on the verge of overtaking Alpha, a VOC first detected in the Kent area.
The Covid-19 Delta variant, or highly transmissible problematic variant B1.617.2, first identified in India, has now become the predominant VOC in the United Kingdom and may be associated with an increased risk of hospitalization, according to British health authorities.
Impacts of Delta Variant:
According to Public Health England (PHE), which tracks all Covid variants in the country, the number of Delta variant infections rose by 5,472 in one week to 12,431 on Thursday. The latest stats lead experts to conclude that the Delta variant is on track to overtake Alpha, a VOC first detected in the English region of Kent.
“As this option has spread across the UK, it is vital that we all continue to exercise extreme caution,” said Dr. Jenny Harris, director of the UK Health Safety Agency.
“The way to fight options is to fight Covid-19 transmission in general. Work from home if possible and always follow the ‘hands, face, place, fresh air’ rule.” If you are eligible to get vaccinated and haven’t yet, come get vaccinated and be sure to get a second shot. It will save lives,” he said.
PHE also said that early evidence points to a possible “increased risk of hospitalization” with delta compared to alpha, “although more data are needed before we can say this with more certainty.”
According to a breakdown of official data, 278 people with the Delta variant went to the emergency hospital this week. Last week, 201 people went to the hospital.
“Again, most of them were unvaccinated,” PHE said, citing its earlier studies showing that two doses of the Covid-19 vaccine were “highly effective” against VOC Delta.
The areas most affected by the delta variant continue to be in the northwest of England – Bolton, where the number of cases has increased by 795 to 2,149, and Blackburn with Darwen, where 368 new cases have been reported, bringing the total number to 724.
PHE said there were “encouraging signs” that transmission rates in Bolton had begun to fall and that measures taken by residents and local authorities had been successful in reducing the spread.
Experts continue to call for “caution” as the country enters the next phase of the roadmap: June 21 is set as the end date for all blockchain restrictions.
“Cases of Lyme disease have increased in several areas and it is absolutely essential that everyone plays a role in preventing its spread,” PHE said.
In Bolton, local teams went door-to-door in targeted areas over several consecutive weekends, distributing test kits, talking about essential safety standards, and encouraging people to get vaccinated at the local center.
The perception of the tests and the vaccine was rated as “positive”.
In Blackburn with Darwen, local teams also went door-to-door, and over 10,000 additional PCR tests were performed.
Mobile testing units have been sent to the area and wastewater samples continue to be collected to monitor the spread of this variant.
PHE said its public health teams continue to work with local authorities and schools to conduct surveillance for Covid 19 cases in schools to understand and reduce transmission in these settings. PHE said outbreaks and clustering in primary and secondary schools are at low levels, but there has been a “slight increase” in recent weeks, consistent with a higher prevalence of the Delta variant in the community.
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