Chief State Health Inspector: Delta variant of Covid-19 could become dominant in Bulgaria by September

The appearance of positive cases of the Delta variant of Covid-19 in Bulgaria is part of the general process of the course of the epidemic in Europe, with an increasing dominance of cases of this variant. This process will continue. It would be more worrying if we do not identify such samples, because Bulgaria cannot remain isolated, the Chief State Health Inspector Assoc. Prof. Angel Kunchev said at a briefing at the Ministry of Health on June 28.

Today it became clear that there are 7 cases of the Delta variant of SARS-CoV-2 and one of the Beta variant. This does not mean that they do not exist elsewhere in the country, said Assoc. Prof. Kunchev.

"Things are clear - the new variant that will cause coronavirus morbidity is the Delta variant, until a new one emerges," he said.

He specified that this option affects a lower age group, there is no significant difference in the severity of the illness compared to the other variants. However, it is 60% is more transmissible, which makes it faster to spread. But on the other hand, we have a much better prepared healthcare system, Kunchev said.

According to him, the Delta variant will remain dominant in Europe until the end of the summer. The variant has caused the infections to spike in the UK, southern Spain and even in Russia.

Assoc. Prof. Kunchev thinks that probably this variant could become dominant in Bulgaria by September.

If we want to be maximally prepared for a meeting with the Indian variant, we must have high immunization coverage. This will prevent the wave, Assoc. Prof. Kunchev was firm.

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The vaccines in this form protect against severe illness and death. Obviously, there will be cases of infected immunized people, especially older immunized people, but it is less likely to experience severe symptoms, he added.

If we apply the measures that are known so far, they will be effective for the Indian variant as well.