More than a year-and-a-half since Covid-19 emerged in China, the new Delta variant is threatening to derail long-awaited reopening plans. And experts are worried.
More than a year-and-a-half since Covid-19 emerged in China – sparking a global pandemic that has crippled economies, killed millions and forced international borders closed – there are growing fears that the Indian strain of the virus could derail long-awaited re-openings and plunge the world back into crisis.now spread to at least 62 countries
In the UK, the Delta variant – given the new name by the WHO to simplify its scientific name, B.1.617.2, and to avoid stigmatising countries that detect new strains – now accounts for 90 per cent of new cases, which have begun to surge again despite a successful vaccination campaign. The disturbing figures are forcing the government to consider delaying the final easing of restrictions on June 21 by either two or four weeks,The goal is to give people more time to get their second shot. Around 75 per cent of the UK has been vaccinated, but only 40 per cent have had two doses.