Delta coronavirus variant becoming globally dominant, WHO chief scientist says

Soumya Swaminathan said the variant is well on its way to becoming the dominant strain globally because of its increased transmissibility

Britain has reported a steep rise in cases with the Delta variant that was first identified in India

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Britain has reported a steep rise in Covid-19 infections with the Delta variant. Photo: EPA-EFE

Published: 11:14pm, 18 Jun 2021

The Delta variant of Covid-19, first identified in India, is becoming the globally dominant variant of the disease, the World Health Organization’s chief scientist said on Friday.

Soumya Swaminathan also voiced disappointment in the failure of CureVac’s vaccine candidate in a trial to meet the WHO’s efficacy standard, in particular as highly transmissible variants boost the need for new, effective shots.

Britain has reported a steep rise in infections with the Delta variant, while Germany’s top public health official predicted it would rapidly become the dominant strain there despite rising vaccination rates.

The Kremlin blamed a surge in Covid-19 cases on reluctance to have vaccinations and “nihilism” after record new infections in Moscow, mostly with the Delta variant, fanned fears of a third wave.

“The Delta variant is well on its way to becoming the dominant variant globally because of its increased transmissibility,” Swaminathan told a news conference.

Coronavirus variants were cited by CureVac when the German company this week reported its vaccine proved only 47 per cent effective at preventing disease, shy of the WHO’s 50 per cent benchmark.