UK warns of increased risk of Covid-19 reinfection with Delta variant

An employee sets a table at Lume restaurant and wine shop on Primrose Hill in north London. Pic/AFP

UK health officials on Friday issued a warning of an increased risk of catching the Delta variant even if someone has had Covid-19 before and urged caution as further investigations remain ongoing.

Public Health England (PHE), which monitors all variants of concern (VOC) in the country on a weekly basis, found the Delta variant cases have risen by 33,716 since last week to a total of 2,86,765 and continues to account for approximately 99 per cent of Coronavirus cases across the UK.

"The Delta risk assessment has been updated to reflect early signs of increased risk of reinfection with Delta compared to Alpha [variant previously dominant in the UK]," the PHE said. "National surveillance analysis, adjusted for different variables including age and vaccination, shows a preliminary signal of increased risk of reinfection with Delta compared to Alpha," it noted.

With reference to the latest hospitalisation data, 3,692 people have been hospitalised with the Delta variant, of whom 2,152 were unvaccinated and 843 were fully vaccinated. "The data shows just how crucial vaccination is in protecting us from severe illness," said Dr Jenny Harries, Chief Executive of the UK Health Security.

Hanoi imposes highest level of social distancing

The Vietnamese capital of Hanoi on Saturday enforced the country's strictest social distancing measures amid the resurgence of Covid-19 cases. According to the directive, residents must stay at home and only go out for basic necessities. No more than two people can gather at public places apart from workplaces, or hospitals. Local residents must also submit online health declarations daily.

Brazil reopens amid looming threat from Delta variant

With the number of Coronavirus deaths starting to recede in Brazil, a renewed sense of optimism has led state governors to roll back restrictions, soccer fans are starting to return to stadiums, and the mayor of Rio de Janeiro has said the city's famous New Year's party is back on.

Demonstrators protest against Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro's handling of the Covid-19 pandemic in Manaus. Pic/AFP

But one question looms over these early signs of recovery: What will happen as the Delta variant of Covid-19 spreads through the mostly unvaccinated country, which already has the world's second-highest death toll with 547,000 fatalities?

"It will be explosive," said Gonzalo Vecina, a professor of public health at the University of Sao Paulo. "There will be a new wave. We are opening too much."

Brazil's Health Ministry counted 140 cases of the Delta variant by Friday, including its three most populous states, and 12 deaths. Analysts say the figures are vast undercounts due to a lack of testing and genome sequencing.

19,41,76,010
TOTAL Number OF CORONAVIRUS

CASES IN THE WORLD

41,63,041
Number OF DEATHS WORLDWIDE

17,62,44,300
Number OF RECOVERED PATIENTS

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