Delta variant represents 75% of Covid-19 infections in the Algarve

The Delta variant represents 75% of the cases of Covid-19 detected in the Algarve, according to the latest report on the genetic diversity of the virus, published this Monday, by the National Institute of Health Doctor Ricardo Jorge (INSA).

The report said that the Delta variant, initially associated with India, had "a galloping rise" at national level, going from 4% in May to 55,6% in June, with its distribution varying between 3,2% in the Azores and 94,5% Alentejo.

Taking into account the trend, "it is expected that this variant will become dominant throughout the national territory in the coming weeks", stresses the INSA.

In the case of the Algarve, Delta represents, according to the report, 75% of the cases of Covid-19 detected in the region, while the Alpha variant, associated with the United Kingdom, has lost prevalence and represents only 21% of new infections.

Regional Health authorities already suspected that the increase in new cases in the Algarve was related to the presence of the new variant.

Therefore, taking into account «the large number of positive cases in vaccinated people», samples had been sent to the INSA, «to try to understand the variant involved», said, on June 18, Ana Cristina Guerreiro, regional delegate for Health.

According to the report of the genetic diversity report, to date, 9.846 sequences of the genome of the new coronavirus have been analyzed, obtained from samples collected in more than 100 laboratories, hospitals and institutions, representing 284 municipalities in Portugal.