13/07/2021
Delta Variant
What is the Delta Variant?
• The delta variant was declared a “variant of concern” by the World Health Organization in May due to increased evidence that this variant is more transmissible, causes more severe illness or reduces the effectiveness of vaccines or treatments. In the U.S., the CDC declared delta a “variant of concern” on June 15.
• Research suggests that delta, officially known as B.1.617.2, is the most contagious of all the known variants to date, including the highly transmissible alpha (Britain) variant. According to reports, Delta accounts for more than 95 percent of new Covid-19 cases in UK.
Where is it spreading?
• The delta variant has been reported in more than 95 countries, according to the World Health Organization.
• In Pakistan, as many as 15 people were diagnosed with the delta variant of Covid-19 in the Rawalpindi district
• In Islamabad district, the federal capital reported 104 new cases with the positivity rate of 3.63pc on Thursday.
Does the delta variant cause more severe illness or symptoms?
• The researchers found that the risk of hospitalization from Covid-19 was roughly doubled for patients infected with delta, compared with people infected with the alpha variant.
What are the most common symptoms of Delta variant Covid-19 now?
• Headache, sore throat, runny nose and fever — similar to what people may experience with a bad cold. Shortness of breath, cough and other lung issues remain the most common symptoms of Covid-19, which was first identified in Wuhan, China, but some physicians have noticed more upper respiratory complaints, such as congestion, a runny nose and headaches, with recent infections.
Are vaccines effective against this variant?
• The vaccines in use appear to offer good protection against the delta variant, and most scientists agree that fully vaccinated individuals likely face little risk.
What can we do to protect ourselves?
• Get full dose of vaccinations.
• Abide by the SOPs as previously instructed.
• Wear masks to limit transmission.