Delta Plus Variant Is Sweeping Across UK, Will It Hit RI
Sunday, October 24, 2021
COVID cases are increasing dramatically in the United Kingdom fueled by the spread of a variant of the Delta variant — the so-called Delta Plus variant.
The new mutated form of coronavirus may spread more easily than regular Delta, UK experts now say.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has moved "Delta Plus" up into the "variant under investigation" category, to reflect this possible risk.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST“The designation was made on the basis that this sub-lineage has become increasingly common in the UK in recent months, and there is some early evidence that it may have an increased growth rate in the UK compared to Delta. More evidence is needed to know whether this is due to changes in the virus’ behaviour or to epidemiological conditions,” UKHSA reports.
Dr. Jenny Harries, Chief Executive of the UK Health Security Agency, said, "Viruses mutate often and at random, and it is not unexpected that new variants will continue to arise as the pandemic goes on, particularly while the case rate remains high. It is a testament to the diligence and scientific expertise of my colleagues at UKHSA, and the genomic sequencing capacity developed through the pandemic, that this new variant has been identified and analyzed so quickly. However, it should serve as objective evidence that this pandemic is not over.”
Last week, Francois Balloux, Director of the Genetics Institute at University College London, Tweeted the Delta Plus could be 10%-15% more contagious than Delta, which first appeared in India and spreads easier than Ebola, SARS, MERS and the 1918 Spanish flu, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Could It Be a Factor in RI?
Dr. Michael Fine, the former Rhode Island Director of Health said, “It is too early to make much of a prediction about Delta Plus. Until we get that data, we won’t be able to predict impact.”
“However, some principles still apply. It continues to be critical from a public health perspective for nations and states to reduce community transmission to both save lives and prevent the evolution of new variants. That means masking and social distancing...until community transmission is less than 35 new cases/100000/week or even less than 15,” added Fine.
“That also means getting to a vaccination rate of 95%. And that means a worldwide effort to vaccinate the world’s population, focusing on poor nations, where the vaccination rate is still 5%,” added Fine.
In Rhode Island, 2,872 have died from the virus and in a three-day period this past week, 10 died.
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