Delta variant accounts for 80% of new COVID-19 cases: Govt expert panel chief

Delta variant is also around 40-60% more transmissible than its predecessor, Alpha variant, and has already spread to more than 80 countries, including the U.K., the U.S. and Singapore

The Delta variant was primarily responsible for the second wave of COVID-19 in the country, accounting for over 80 per cent of new cases, Dr. N.K. Arora, co-chair of Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium said, underlining that the cases may go up if a new, more infectious variant comes. The variant is also around 40-60% more transmissible than its predecessor, Alpha variant, and has already spread to more than 80 countries, including the U.K., the U.S. and Singapore. The Delta Plus variant — AY.1 and AY.2 — has so far been detected in 55-60 cases across 11 States, including Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, and Madhya Pradesh and is still being studied for its transmissibility, virulence, and vaccine escape characteristics, Dr. Arora said, accordingto a Union Health Ministry statement.