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The Coronavirus Delta variant is spreading across Europe. It is not only Great Britain that is struggling with the increase in the incidence, but alarming signals are also visible on the continent. Can Delta’s Progress Be Stopped? Experts do not rule out that it is too late for that, and the fourth wave may be just a matter of time.
- The Delta mutation can be twice as contagious as other coronavirus mutations. It is also known to be more virulent. The Guardian notes that it is spreading faster than other variants
- Europe wants to stop the spread of the Delta variant. Experts say it may be too late for that
- The European Center for Disease Prevention and Control estimates that at the end of August, this mutation will be responsible for 90 percent. COVID-19 cases in Europe
- The data indicate that the coronavirus Delta mutation mainly affects unvaccinated people. So there is a race in Europe to fully vaccinate millions of people
- More information can be found on the Onet homepage.
We first heard about the variant of the coronavirus from India in March this year, when a double mutant SARS-CoV-2 variant (known as B.1.617, and now the Delta variant) was identified there. I think we all remember the information about the unprecedented increase in coronavirus infection, in just over a month the number of cases in India increased from around 20. to over 400 cases per day. Today, three months later, we already know that the Delta variant is starting to dominate the world. Already in mid-June, The Guardian reported that the pathogen had reached 74 countries and that it was spreading faster than other variants.
In Europe, the first country in which the Delta variant made itself known was the United Kingdom. Today it is estimated that he is responsible for 95 percent. of all new coronavirus infections in this country. Moreover, while at the end of May the number of infections was around 3,4 thousand, on June 30 there were over 26 thousand.
There are now more and more signals that the Delta variant is spreading across the continent. Concern about this situation was also expressed by the World Health Organization. During Thursday’s press conference, Hans Kluge, WHO’s regional director, said the number of new cases of infection in Europe increased by 10% in one week. “Growth is fueled by travel, socializing and easing social constraints,” he said.
The increase in the incidence is observed in Portugal, the first EU country to open up to British tourists after the break (in mid-May). According to information from medical services, at the end of June, the highest daily increase in the number of coronavirus infections since February took place. According to Deutsche Welle, in Portugal the Delta variant is responsible for one in two new infections.
France’s Minister of Health, Olivier Veran, informed on Tuesday that the country’s Delta variant accounts for around 20 percent. COVID-19 cases (compared to an estimated 9-10% last week). According to «Deutsche Welle» it accounts for over 50 percent. registered cases (in the week of June 15–20 it was approx. 36%). The increase in morbidity caused by the Delta variant is also reported by Spain, Italy, Switzerland, Our Country and Turkey.
The Delta mutation also reached Poland. In an interview with Medonet, Dr. Aneta Afelt from the COVID-19 Team at the President of the Polish Academy of Sciences recalled the research of prof. Krzysztof Pyrć from the Małopolska Center of Biotechnology of the Jagiellonian University, which indicate that Delta appeared in our country (in a detectable percentage) at the end of May (individual cases were recorded at the end of April). 29th of June Deputy Minister of Health Waldemar Kraska informed that so far in Poland the Delta mutation has been detected in about 100 patients. In this case, the fires are dispersed, but remain under the supervision of the Department of Health, said the deputy minister.
Delta variant. Scientists: it may be too late to stop it
These figures raise concerns in Europe and raise concerns about a potential new wave of Delta infections. Especially that, according to scientists’ estimates, the Delta variant may be twice as contagious as other mutations. In The Guardian, Zoë Hyde, an Australian epidemiologist at the University of Western Australia, estimated that “a person infected with the Delta variant is likely to pass it on to about six others.” It is also known that this variant is more virulent (its ability to penetrate and multiply in the body is greater).
- Are you threatened by the Delta variant? The degree of risk depends on several factors. What kind?
To contain Delta, Germany imposed restrictions on visitors from the UK. Anyone traveling from the UK to this country must undergo a two-week quarantine, even if they are vaccinated against the coronavirus or tested negative. According to CNBC, “Berlin has gone one step further, calling on the EU to adopt a unified stance on the quarantine requirement for British travelers.”
The Times also reported that German Chancellor Angela Merkel came up with a proposal to temporarily block the British from entering the continent, even those fully vaccinated against COVID-19. The proposal is mainly opposed by countries where tourism is a large source of income, ie Cyprus, Greece, Spain, Malta and Portugal. Criticism also came from government officials in London.
- What to do to prevent the Delta variant from triggering another lockdown? Experts call for the application of the seven principles
Scientists suspect it may be too late to stop the Delta variant in Europe, notes CNBC. The European Center for Disease Prevention and Control estimates that at the end of August, this mutation will be responsible for 90 percent. COVID-19 cases. Tom Wenseleers, an evolutionary biologist and biostatistician at Katholieke Universiteit Leuven in Belgium, notes that the actual number of infections in Europe caused by the Delta variant may be significantly higher than current estimates suggest.
– In Portugal, 90 percent currently diagnosed cases may be due to the Delta mutation, but with a strong geographic focus around Lisbon, he told CNBC. – Many other European countries, such as: Spain, Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg, Sweden, the Netherlands, however, are not far behind, and it is estimated that over 50 percent. all diagnosed cases were caused by the Delta mutation there, he noted.
Delta in Europe: The race is on to fully vaccinate millions of people
The data indicate that the coronavirus Delta mutation mainly affects unvaccinated people. As researchers from the COVID-19 team at the President of the Polish Academy of Sciences recently pointed out, they account for more than two-thirds of all new cases, and fully vaccinated people continue to achieve high immunity.
«Full vaccination significantly reduces the risk of falling ill, and in the case of illness it significantly reduces the risk of hospitalization. This is proven by the research conducted by the Institute of Public Health of Great Britain for the vectored vaccine (AstraZeneca) and the mRNA vaccine (BioNTech / Pfizer) »- noted in the report published on 28 June. Researchers also noted that “there are indications that the same will be the case for the rest of the vaccines approved”.
Do you want to test your COVID-19 immunity after vaccination? Have you been infected and want to check your antibody levels? See the COVID-19 immunity test package, which you will perform at Diagnostics network points.
Accordingly, there is a race in Europe to fully vaccinate millions of people, “especially the young ones who were the last to get vaccinated,” notes CNBC.
Tom Wenseleers agrees that “vaccination at maximum speed and reminding people of certain risk groups to exercise caution will likely be the main options” for the EU. The researcher also notes that “increasing border controls and tracing contacts could help save some time”.
Finally, let us quote the words of the German economist, Holger Schmieding, about the near future. “ Thanks to the rapid advances in vaccination, we consider it unlikely that the medical systems in the UK or on the continent will be under such heavy strain that severe economic constraints will again be needed, ” he predicted on CNBC, adding: .
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