UK Covid-19 surge sparks call for probe into ‘Delta Plus’ variant
- UK reports highest daily jump in new cases since mid-July
- Delta Plus has mutation associated with increased risk of reinfection
Former US Food and Drug Administration commissioner Scott Gottlieb called for “urgent research” into a mutation of the Delta variant – known as “Delta Plus” – following a surge in Covid-19 cases in the UK.
“We need urgent research to figure out if this delta plus is more transmissible, has partial immune evasion,” Gottlieb said in a tweet.
“There’s no clear indication that it’s considerably more transmissible, but we should work to more quickly characterise these and other new variants. We have the tools.”
Gottlieb’s comments come as the UK reported the highest daily jump in new cases on Sunday since mid-July – around when Prime Boris Johnson authorised the removal of most Covid-related restrictions in what was dubbed “Freedom Day”.
Much of the recent increased cases in the UK is among children after their return to school. The roll-out of vaccines among older children is widely considered slower than hoped.
