Monrovia — Liberia has recorded 4,304 confirmed cases of COVID-19 since March 16, 2020. Currently, 1,783 of this number are active cases. The new wave of the pandemic has hit the country hard as questions about the Delta variant continue to ponder the minds of many Liberians. This is what you need to know about the Delta variant.
- What is a variant?
A variant is the consistent changes a virus makes through mutation, and new viruses are expected to occur over time. A variant has one or more mutations that differentiate it from other variants in circulation.
- In which country was the Delta variant discovered?
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) the Delta variant (B.1.617.2) was first discovered in India in December 2020. The World Health Organization (WHO) has said the earliest documented samples were found in October 2020 in India. This variant has since spread internationally and is contributing to the new wave of the pandemic.
- How is the Delta variant different from the original virus?
The World Health Organization designated Delta as a variant of interest on April 4, 2021 and later a variant of concern on May 11. The CDC has also said that the Delta variant seems to spread more easily and quickly than its predecessors, adding that it is 40% more transmissible than the Alpha variant. Delta currently accounts for more than 91% of cases in the United Kingdom, and is about 40% more transmissible than the Alpha variant, according to UK government estimates. Other scientists have calculated that it may be 40- 60%- more transmissible than the Alpha variant.
A study published in The Lancet on June 14, shows that the Delta variant is associated with approximately double the risk of hospitalization compared with the Alpha variant, particularly among individuals with several other comorbidities (additional or underlying health conditions). Also, Chinese Doctors are reporting that patients infected with the Delta variant “are becoming sicker and their conditions deteriorating more quickly than the patients they treated at the start of the pandemic”.
The Delta variant is slightly different from the other variants in terms of signs and symptoms as it relates to signs and symptoms as well as the risk of hospitalization.
The Symptoms: Unlike the baseline COVID-19 virus and other variants, the Delta variant has three different signs and symptoms.
| Symptoms of the Delta variant | Compared to the Alpha variant symptoms
|
| Ø Headache
Ø Sore throat Ø Runny nose Ø Fever (sometimes)
|
Ø Fever or chills,
Ø Cough, Ø Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, Ø Fatigue, Ø Muscle or body aches, Ø New loss of smell or taste
|
Important: If you are experiencing these signs and symptoms go for testing. Wearing mask and vaccines offer good protection against the Delta variant and it is a good way to stay safe and protected.
You may contact us to fact check any claim or information relative to Liberia. Contact us on:
Factcheck.localvoicesliberia@gmail.com or WhatsApp: +231880986778
LVL Fact Checking Desk is part of the Liberia Media Initiative co-financed by the European Union. The funder had no say in the production of this report.