The Indian ‘Delta’ coronavirus variant has been detected for the first time on the islands of Hawaii, health officials revealed on Monday.
The individual, who lives on Oahu, was fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and traveled last month to Nevada, where the strain was being reported at the time.
After returning to Hawaii with a negative COVID test, the person began experiencing mild symptoms and tested positive for the virus, according to the state Department of Health (DOH).
Routine genome sequencing was conducted on samples by the State Laboratories Division (SLD) and confirmed to be linked to the variant, known as B.1.617.2.
The mutant strain has been wreaking havoc in the UK, causing infections to spike 50 percent in one week and hospitalizations to rise by 15 percent.
A recent report from Public Health England (PHE) found that more than 90 percent of virus cases in the country are now linked to the variant.
Scientists estimate that the Delta variant is between 40 percent and 80 percent transmissible, which has sparked fears that if it has already been detected in multiple U.S. states, a similar outbreak to the one in the UK could be on the horizon.
A fully vaccinated resident in Hawaii has tested positive for the Indian Delta coronavirus variant, health officials revealed on Monday. Pictured: A traveler is assisted by a state official at the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Honolulu, Oahu
The person traveled last month to Nevada, where cases of the variant were spreading, and developed mild symptoms, adding to the growing number of cases in the U.S.
The variant, known as B.1.617.2, has caused infections in the UK to spike 50% in one week and hospitalizations to rise by 15%
Dr Elizabeth Char, director of the Hawaii DOH, said the person’s infection is ‘one of those very rare breakthrough cases in which the vaccine did not prevent infection.’
However, evidence has shown vaccines prevent severe illness with the Pfizer vaccine 96 percent effective against hospitalization from the variant and the AstraZeneca vaccine 92 percent effective, a UK study published on Monday found.
The person was not hospitalized and there are no signs that he or she transmitted the virus to household contacts or caused any secondary cases.
‘Early evidence suggests the Delta variant might spread more quickly than other SARS-CoV-2 strains,’ said SLD Administrator Edward Desmond in a statement.
‘There are reports the Delta variant produces a higher rate of severe illness than original COVID-19, but we do not yet have enough evidence to support that conclusion.’
It comes as millions of people across England are being urged not travel or hold indoor gatherings to curb the spread of the Indian Delta variant.
The guidance, affecting 3.6 million residents, was released for the Midlands and North West of England, which are seeing above average rates of the mutant strain.
Coronavirus cases have undeniably been rising in the UK, and quickly, in recent weeks after the ending of most lockdown rules on May 17 coincided with the takeover of the Indian variant.
The average number of positive tests announced each day is now above 7,000 for the first time since the tail end of the second wave in March, after 7,490 cases were confirmed yesterday after 8,125 on Friday.
There were 50,017 cases confirmed between Monday and Sunday last week, a 50 per cent spike from 33,496 the week before.
Cases, hospitalizations and deaths are up week over week due to the variant, making up 90% of cases in the UK
Places where infection rates with the Delta variant are comparatively high – Bedfordshire, London, Birmingham, Manchester and East Lancashire – had the highest admission rates in the most recent data but even those, the worst-hit hospitals, still had only five patients admitted on June 6.
They also have the most people in hospital in total, with 44 Covid patients on wards in Manchester University NHS Trust on June 8.
This was the highest in the country and up almost 60 percent in a week from 28 on June 1.
Hospital admissions are creeping up across the UK and more notably in Delta variant hotspots.
Coronavirus vaccines provide more protection against infection with and hospitalization from the Delta (Indian) variant after two doses compared to one dose
The increase has been significantly slower than cases – there was a 15 percent increase in the most recent week, from 875 new admissions by June 1 to 1,008 in the week to June 8.
However, this is likely an effect of the lag between someone getting infected and then getting sick enough to need hospital treatment.
The spread of the Indian Delta variant – believed to be 60 percent more infectious than the Alpha strain, also known as the Kent variant, and twice as likely to put unvaccinated people in hospital – has led to the UK government pumping the brakes on England’s June 21 Freedom Day.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced on Monday night that the numbers were forcing the end of UK lockdowns to be pushed back by four weeks.
Remaining lockdown restrictions are now due to be lifted on July 19, which Johnson promised would be the ‘terminus date.’
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