It’s been just reported that the covid delta variation is not as scary as previously thought. CNBC just noted that the recently discovered variant of covid 19 is making up 10% of the new UK cases.
On the other hand, according to experts, “there’s no reason to panic.”
Covid Delta Mutation news
The subvariant mentioned above is known as AY.4.2. The same online publication mentions the fact that there are some concerns that it could be around 10% more transmissible than the original delta strain.
According to the notes, there is so far insufficient evidence to prove that this is the case.
The subvariant is believed to have emerged in the U.K. over the summer. This one has two more mutations that are reportedly affecting its spike protein. Just to refresh your memory, this is the part of the virus’s structure used to infiltrate cells.
The notes also reveal the fact that there are still some questions that are hanging over exactly how, or if, the mutations will affect how quickly it spreads.
Christina Pagel, director of the Clinical Operational Research Unit at University College London,
“It looks like it has somewhere between a 12% and 18% transmission advantage over delta, so it’s not good news in that sense. It’s going to make things a bit more difficult, but it’s not a massive jump.”
This is what Pagel said. She continued and explained the following:
“Delta compared to alpha was around 60% more transmissible, it was doubling every week. This is going up by a percent or two a week — it’s much, much slower. So in that sense, it’s not a big disaster like delta was. It will probably gradually replace delta over the next few months. But there’s no sign it’s more vaccine resistant, [so] at the moment I wouldn’t be panicking about it.”
Check out the latest news about covid transmission and stay tuned for more news and make sure to stay safe as well.
