Delta variant finally confirmed in Durham

Durham Region’s Health Department has finally confirmed the existence of the highly contagious Delta variant in the Region.

A day after being named a Delta hot spot – a move that accelerates second doses for residents – without confirming the variant has even been discovered here, the health department confirmed today there have been 13 cases of Delta variant reported in Durham.

The leading variant is still the B.1.1.7 Alpha variant, with 9,446 reported cases since testing began.

The B.1.617.2 Delta variant is cause for concern because it poses risks to children and also to people who have been vaccinated just once, underlying the importance for everyone to get their second dose.

There were 11 new cases of Covid-19 reported yesterday – the lowest total documented this year. The total number of Durham residents who have been fully vaccinated has now reached 101,051, or 18 per cent of the adult population.