UK warns of increased risk of Covid-19 reinfection with Delta variant

UK health officials on Friday issued a warning of an increased risk of catching the Delta variant even if someone has had Covid19 before and urged caution as further investigations remain ongoingPublic Health England PHE which monitors all variants of concern VOC in the country on a weekly basis found the Delta variant cases have risen by 33716 since last week to a total of 286765 and continues to account for approximately 99 per cent of Coronavirus cases across the UKldquoThe Delta risk assessment has been updated to reflect early signs of increased risk of reinfection with Delta compared to Alpha variant previously dominant in the UKrdquo the PHE said ldquoNational surveillance analysis adjusted for different variables including age and vaccination shows a preliminary signal of increased risk of reinfection with Delta compared to Alphardquo it notedWith reference to the latest hospitalisation data 3692 people have been hospitalised with the Delta variant of whom 2152 were unvaccinated and 843 were fully vaccinated ldquoThe data shows just how crucial vaccination is in protecting us from severe illnessrdquo said Dr Jenny Harries Chief Executive of the UK Health SecurityHanoi imposes highest level of social distancingThe Vietnamese capital of Hanoi on Saturday enforced the countryrsquos strictest social distancing measures amid the resurgence of Covid19 cases According to the directive residents must stay at home and only go out for basic necessities No more than two people can gather at public places apart from workplaces or hospitals Local residents must also submit online health declarations dailyBrazil reopens amid looming threat from Delta variantWith the number of Coronavirus deaths starting to recede in Brazil a renewed sense of optimism has led state governors to roll back restrictions soccer fans are starting to return to stadiums and the mayor of Rio de Janeiro has said the cityrsquos famous New Yearrsquos party is back onDemonstrators protest against Brazilian President Jair Bolsonarorsquos handling of the Covid19 pandemic in Manaus PicAFPBut one question looms over these early signs of recovery What will happen as the Delta variant of Covid19 spreads through the mostly unvaccinated country which already has the worldrsquos secondhighest death toll with 547000 fatalitiesldquoIt will be explosiverdquo said Gonzalo Vecina a professor of public health at the University of Sao Paulo ldquoThere will be a new wave We are opening too muchrdquoBrazilrsquos Health Ministry counted 140 cases of the Delta variant by Friday including its three most populous states and 12 deaths Analysts say the figures are vast undercounts due to a lack of testing and genome sequencing194176010TOTAL Number OF CORONAVIRUSCASES IN THE WORLD4163041Number OF DEATHS WORLDWIDE176244300Number OF RECOVERED PATIENTSThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever