Delta Variant of Covid: It’s ‘40pc more transmissible’

The Delta variant of the coronavirus is estimated to be 40 percent more transmissible than the Alpha variant that caused the last wave of infections in the UK, Britain's health minister said yesterday.

But people who have received two doses of vaccine, should be equally protected against either variant, he added.

"That figure, around 40 percent more transmissible, is indeed the latest advice I have," Health Secretary Matt Hancock told Sky News.

The Delta variant, also known as the Indian variant, is now the dominant strain in the UK, according to Public Health England figures.

It was the Alpha variant, previously known as the Kent variant, that forced the UK into lockdown in January.

Hancock said the 40 percent figure came from the government body of scientific advisors, SAGE.

Concerns are mounting over whether the emergence of the Delta variant threatens the government's provisional June 21 deadline for lifting virus restrictions.

Hancock acknowledged that the Delta variant "does make the calculation more difficult for June 21".

"We'll look at the data for another week and then make a judgement," he told the BBC yesterday, stressing that the government was "absolutely open" to delaying the lifting of restrictions.

The minister nevertheless stressed that those who have had two doses of vaccine should be protected against illness from the Delta variant.

Public Health England said last month that research showed double vaccination was similarly effective against both the Kent and Delta variants.

"The best scientific advice I have at this stage is that, after one jab, it's not quite as effective against the new Delta variant, but after both jabs, it is," Hancock told the BBC.

So far hospitalisations are "broadly flat", with very few hospitalised after receiving both vaccine doses, he added.

The UK has so far given more than 27 million people two doses -- more than 50 percent of adults -- while more than 40 million have had one dose.

Hancock said the government was "taking clinical advice" on whether to extend the vaccination programme to children over 12, who are believed to be playing a major role in spreading the virus. But this would not be mandatory, he added.

TRANSIT OF VACCINES

The coronavirus has killed at least 3,723,381 people since the outbreak emerged in China in December 2019, according to a tally from official sources compiled by AFP yesterday.

The United States is the worst-affected country with 597,377 deaths from 33,357,240 cases.

Senator Tammy Duckworth said yesterday the United States will donate 750,000 Covid-19 vaccine doses to Taiwan as part of the country's plan to share shots globally, offering a much-needed boost to the island's fight against the pandemic.

Taiwan is dealing with a spike in domestic cases but has been affected like many places by global vaccines shortages. Only around 3% of its 23.5 million people have been vaccinated, with most getting only the first shot of two needed.

Meanwhile, ministers from the Asia-Pacific trade group Apec on Saturday agreed to review trade barriers and expedite the cross-border transit of Covid-19 vaccines and related goods, but stopped short of a broad commitment to remove tariffs.

A meeting of trade ministers from the 21-economy group, which includes the United States, China and Japan, also produced pledges to support World Trade Organization negotiations for an intellectual property waiver on Covid-19 vaccines.

In three statements issued after the meeting, the ministers said they would "expedite the flow and transit of all Covid-19 vaccines and related goods through their air, sea and land ports."

"We will consider voluntary actions to reduce the cost of these products for our people, particularly by encouraging each economy to review its own charges levied at the border on Covid-19 vaccines and related goods," one statement said.

The ministers also said they were committed to work to facilitate the movement of essential goods and minimize disruptions to networks critical to keeping supply chains operating smoothly, reports Reuters.               

INDIA TO EASE CURBS

India reported 114,460 new coronavirus infections yesterday, the lowest in two months, while the death toll increased by 2,677, as parts of the country prepared to ease movement restrictions.

A second wave of the coronavirus that has largely battered the rural interiors of the country is yet to abate but New Delhi and other cities are working towards allowing more businesses to operate and movement rules to be relaxed from today onwards.

The western state of Maharashtra, which is India's richest and has suffered the most infections during the second wave, plans to start this week easing in stages a strict lockdown imposed in April.

Scientists have warned of a third wave of the coronavirus that could hit India later in the year, likely impacting children more.

Legendary actor Dilip Kumar was admitted to a hospital in Mumbai yesterday after he suffered from breathlessness, his wife and veteran actor Saira Banu said.

Kumar, 98, was taken to the Hinduja Hospital in suburban Khar aahearound 8:30 am, reports our New Delhi correspondent.

"He was unwell today morning and had breathlessness. He is now here at Khar Hinduja non-Covid hospital for investigations," Banu said.