The Delta variant of the coronavirus, now dominant in the UK, is 60% more contagious than its alpha predecessor in the country, according to a study published on Friday.
Health Minister Matt Hancock mentioned the figure of 40% on Sunday.
According to this study by the British health authorities (Public Health England), 42,323 cases of this variant identified in India were detected this week in the United Kingdom, where it represents more than 96% of new cases.
Last week, 29,892 cases were detected.
Read also United Kingdom: how the vaccine contains, for the moment, the progression of the Delta variant
Also known as B.1.617.2, the delta variant explains the increase in coronavirus cases in the UK in recent weeks, despite the success of the vaccination campaign.
Fortunately, this rise in power is not accompanied by an increase in hospitalizations in the same proportions.
A thousand patients with the coronavirus are currently in British hospitals.
The general lifting of any repulsed restriction?
"The data indicate that the vaccination program continues to mitigate the impact of this variant" in populations where the number of people having received two doses of vaccine is high, underlines the public body. In six months, the UK was able to deliver two doses to over 77% of adults. While "vaccination" is "our best defense," said Jenny Harries, chief executive of the British Health Security Agency, insisting that everyone in the population get vaccinated, it "reduces the risk of serious disease, it does not. not eliminate it, ”she admitted.
The report of the health authorities confirms that 42 deaths due to the Indian variant were recorded in Great Britain since its appearance and until June 7. 23 people who died were not vaccinated, 7 had received a first dose of vaccine at least three weeks before their death, and 12 had received both doses, the second having been administered more than two weeks before dying from Covid.
The omnipresence of the delta variant could push London to postpone the general lifting of all restrictions, scheduled for June 21. After a winter confinement much longer than the two phases organized in France, the government began to lift the restrictions in April. But, in view of the rise in the contaminations curve, Boris Johnson and his ministers have for several days been preparing public opinion for the idea that it will perhaps be necessary to postpone this date of "Freedom day". Maybe four weeks, the Times whispers on Friday. The news could be announced on Monday.
