Highly Contagious Delta Variant May Become Dominant COVID-19 Strain In US

• Across the world, a wave of new lockdowns are being implemented, as countries scramble to get ahead of the coronavirus strain known as the Delta variant

The United States is in a far better place this summer than many other countries witnessing new COVID-19 cases.

But the Delta variant of the virus — now expected to become the dominant strain in the US — is posing serious dangers in areas with low vaccination rates. Its spread in many countries worldwide is triggering shutdowns and fears of more deaths.

Across the world, a wave of new lockdowns are being implemented, as countries scramble to get ahead of the coronavirus strain known as the Delta variant.

Read also: Coronavirus Pandemic To Be ‘Far More Deadly’ This Year – WHO

The fear spans entire continents. Cities across Australia, a country praised for its initial handling of the pandemic, but now with limited vaccination, are now imposing stay-at-home orders.

In several Asian nations, Indonesia and Malaysia, the variant has threatened to overrun hospitals. Travelers in Hong Kong hustled to get on the last flights to the United Kingdom before a travel ban went into place.

And across Africa, the virus is hitting hard. It’s forced South Africa to reinstate bans on alcohol sales, gatherings and indoor dining for the next two weeks.

President Cyril Ramaphosa issued a stark warning: “We are in the grip of a devastating wave that, by all indications, seems like it will be worse than those that have preceded it.”

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This variant, originally identified in India, is highly contagious, much more so than the original coronavirus. And it’s now on track to become the dominant global strain.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says it’s already been identified in at least 77 countries.