Covid Indian variant: Where is it, how does it spread and is it more infectious?

The majority of new coronavirus cases in the UK are the so-called Indian variant – named the Delta variant by the World Health Organization.
This version – or mutation – was first spotted in India last October.

What is the so-called Indian variant?

Viruses mutate all the time. Most variants are insignificant, but some can make a virus more contagious.

UK scientists say the Delta variant – known as B.1.617.2 – is spreading more quickly than the Kent or Alpha variant, which was behind a surge in cases over the winter.

How many cases are there and where?

There have been almost 18,000 cases of the B.1.617.2 variant in England, just under 3,000 in Scotland, 189 in Wales and 37 in Northern Ireland.

Is it easier to catch?

It does appear to spread more easily than the Kent variant (B.1.1.7).
Transmission rates for the Indian strain have been put at anywhere between 30 and 100% higher than for the Kent or Alpha variant.
Roughly 12% of contacts of people with the Indian variant went on to develop coronavirus, compared with 8% of those who had the so-called Kent variant, according to Public Health England analysis – suggesting it is roughly 50% more transmissible.
But some of that could be the behaviour of humans, rather than the virus itself.
When a variant spreads faster than others, it could be driven by the strain being more infectious, by differences in how close people get, or by different vaccination rates.
For instance, it’s been pointed out some of the worst-affected areas have very low proportions of residents working from home.

How much faster does the Indian variant spread?
Why is the UK taking a risk with the Indian variant?

Will it stop the easing of lockdown?

Despite fears over the Indian variant, most of the UK went ahead with easing restrictions on 17 May.

It is not clear whether the next stage of easing in England will happen on 21 June, as was set out in the government’s roadmap.
The prime minister and health secretary have indicated they will wait for another week’s data before making a decision.

Read the full BBC article here.