The Delta variant of the coronavirus is now the dominant strain across the globe.
Vaccination against coronavirus remains a challenge among many countries. This comes as the Delta variant continues to wreak havoc in these nations.
The variant, which experts first detected in India, is a highly transmissible strain that worries the public. After exacting a toll in the said country, it is now doing the same in several developing nations, according to the Financial Times.
As noted, most of these regions are entering their “worst phase” of the COVID-19 pandemic due to the B.1.617.2 strain. It goes side by side with low vaccination rates due in part to hesitancy, as well as the lack of supply.
COVID-19 case surge in South Africa, Indonesia
The publication named a few of the developing countries that are currently experiencing the worst of the pandemic. South Africa and Indonesia seemingly appear to come on top, among all.
As stated, both countries have reported “record numbers” of COVID-19 infections this month due to the Delta variant. In the African nation, the strain accounts for 95 percent of all the infections, while 99 percent in the Asian country.
As for the vaccination rates, both nations have a very low figure due to various reasons. In South Africa, fewer than 3 percent are fully vaccinated, and about 6 percent in Indonesia.
Delta variant in other developing countries
Apart from South Africa and Indonesia, reports emphasized that other developing nations are experiencing the same situation. In Africa alone, four more countries are seeing the same rates of infections and vaccinations. These are Uganda, Tunisia, Namibia, and Zambia.
The continent recorded a 43-percent rise in COVID-19 deaths due to the Delta variant. These four nations, alongside South Africa, reportedly accounted for 83 percent of the number.
The outlet continued that the highly infectious strain could likely “take hold” in Latin America, as well. This comes after Mexico estimated about 84 percent of its new infections were due to the said variant.
“Pandemic of the unvaccinated”
On Saturday, experts announced that the Delta variant has already become the dominant strain across the globe. While many countries are seeing a spike in the number of new infections, not all are experiencing the worst because of the apparent vaccination rate gaps.
Nevertheless, wealthy countries are still having challenges, as well. This comes as the latest waves of infections appear to have centered on those who have yet to get their jabs.
In the United States, the new cases are up 70 percent, and 26 percent for the death toll, over the previous week due to the Delta variant, according to Channel News Asia. CDC Director Rochelle Walensky, then, consequently stated that this is “becoming a pandemic of the unvaccinated.”
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