LONDON — Coronavirus Delta variant is overwhelmingly dominant across the United Kingdom, accounting for approximately 99 percent of new cases, according to a report published on Friday by Public Health England (PHE). According to initial findings by scientists at PHE, people who have been inoculated against COVID-19 may be able to transmit the Delta variant of the virus as easily as those who have not. The observation comes after the latest PHE report, which showed that 55.1 percent of hospitalized cases of Delta variant were unvaccinated, while 34.9 percent had received both doses of the vaccine. "While vaccines provide high levels of protection, they are not 100 percent effective and will not stop everyone from catching COVID-19. As more of the population gets vaccinated, we will see a higher relative percentage of vaccinated people in hospital," the PHE said in the report. "This may have implications for people's infectiousness, whether they have been vaccinated or not. However, this is early exploratory analysis and further targeted studies are needed to confirm whether this is the case," the report pointed out. PHE has also published the risk assessment of B.1.621, a variant first detected in Colombia, based on apparent spread into multiple countries, as well as importation to the UK. There is preliminary laboratory evidence to suggest that vaccination and previous infection may be less effective at preventing infection with B.1.621. However, this data is very limited and more research is required. There is no evidence to suggest that B.1.621 is more transmissible than the dominant Delta variant, PHE added in its latest report. Commenting on the new findings, Dr. Jenny Harries, chief executive of the UK Health Security Agency, said: "The latest hospitalization figures show once again how important it is that we all come forward to receive both doses of the vaccine as soon as we are able to do so. Vaccination is the best tool we have in keeping ourselves and our loved ones safe from the serious disease risk COVID-19 can pose." "However, we must also remember that the vaccines do not eliminate all risk: it is still possible to become unwell with COVID-19 and infect others. It is still vital that we exercise caution, particularly while cases are high. Remember that meeting outdoors is safer than indoors, isolate if you are told to by NHS Test and Trace, and if you show symptoms stay home and get a PCR test as soon as possible. It is so important that we all continue to play our part," he added.
