The (Indian) Delta variant of the coronavirus is endangering the new summer freedoms in Europe: In Great Britain there were already 18,270 new cases on Saturday despite an advanced vaccination campaign – 2,400 more than the previous day and as many as not since February. Lisbon went from being a model student to a hotspot in no time at all. Moscow is also struggling with a sudden increase in the number of infections. While the Delta variant is only really being received by us, there is already the next bad news from India. Another new variation called “Delta Plus” could be even more contagious.
This week the Indian authorities finally sounded the alarm. Health Minister Rajesh Bhushan had to announce: There are already dozen cases of infection in different parts of India – but also in nine other countries, including the USA and Switzerland. Delta Plus, classified as “worrying” by some experts, is now being closely monitored. The Delta Plus variant contains the additional mutation K417N on the coronavirus spike, which was also found in the beta and gamma variants.
“Delta Plus could defeat vaccination”
According to the Indian experts, initial findings give cause for concern: Delta Plus could be transmitted more easily, bind more strongly to the receptors of lung cells and be more difficult for the immune system to catch, the Indian experts fear. The excitement is great: “Delta Plus could defeat the vaccination”, headlines “India Today”.
It remains to be seen whether these fears will come true. Because there are only very few cases worldwide, the data is too thin to make well-founded statements. The plus variant first appeared in India in April. Accordingly, there are also experts who do not consider Delta Plus to be more dangerous than the normal Delta variant.
In Switzerland, the original delta variant is rapidly gaining ground: the number of proven cases has almost tripled since the end of May. Where the Indian variant has been rampant for a long time, it has displaced the other types of corona: In Great Britain, the share of the delta variant in the new infections is already over 90 percent. In Switzerland, the delta is likely to be the dominant variant in late summer. (sac)
Delta variant is increasing: Are we screwing up autumn now?(01:50)
Published: 06/27/2021, 7:03 p.m.
Last updated: 27.06.2021, 10:45 p.m.