A new mutation of the Delta variant of COVID-19 which was being monitored and assessed in the UK has now been classed as a Variant Under Investigation (VUI) amid concerns of its increased growth rate, with experts warning it is a reminder that the pandemic is not over. AY.4.2, dubbed "Delta Plus" and now named VUI-21OCT-01 by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), has been under closer scrutiny in recent days after evidence indicated that it spread more quickly than the dominant Delta variant. "The Delta variant sub-lineage known as Delta AY.4.2 was designated a Variant Under Investigation by the UK Health Security Agency on 20 October 2021 and has been given the official name VUI-21OCT-01," the UKHSA said. According to official statistics, the original Delta variant – first identified in India and later classed as Variant of Concern (VOC) in the UK – remains overwhelmingly dominant in the UK, making up approximately 99.8 per cent of all cases. UKHSA is monitoring this closely," the health agency in charge of assessing COVID variants noted.

Source: Mint October 23, 2021 17:49 UTC