COVID Delta variant takeover in U.K. offers a warning, and some hope

London — Health experts warn that the rapid spread of the highly infectious Delta variant is a sign that the global race between vaccination and the coronavirus could tip in favor of the latter, unless countries ramp up their immunization campaigns and practice caution. The variant first detected in India has been identified in at least 92 countries, including the U.S., and is widely considered the most transmissible COVID-19 strain observed to date.

The Delta variant has an enhanced ability to prey on the vulnerable — particularly in places with low vaccination rates. Research conducted in the U.K., where the strain already accounts for 99% of new COVID-19 cases, suggests it's about 60% more transmissible than the Alpha variant, which previously dominated.