The Delta-Variant Virus

by Hong-seok Cho

Coronavirus is affecting everyone’s lives all around the world. It was declared as a pandemic, and it has spread to all parts of the world. The vaccine for it was created this year. Many countries started to give this to people, in order to create herd immunity to the virus. However, the corona virus can change the form of itself, and there can be many variants.

In October, 2020, a new form of coronavirus was discovered in India. It was called the India variant at first, but soon changed to the ‘delta variant’. The delta variant can cause more severe symptoms than the original virus, and it can be spread more quickly. This is a problem because the original vaccine might not be as effective against the delta virus as intended. What is worse, many types of variants that are more dangerous than the delta variant are being discovered. For example, there is the ‘delta plus’ variant. This was found in Europe and India, and since the original vaccine might not work well, it can cause the third wave of the coronavirus.

The delta variant has spread in Korea, too. Right now, more people are suffering from the alpha variant than the delta variant. However, the delta virus can always become the dominant form. Experts are predicting that the recent Delta mutant will account for 90% of Europe’s Covid cases by the end of August. There are already 190 people who are suffering from the delta variant, and this number can always increase. Therefore, the Korean government should always be careful and try to prevent the delta virus patients from increasing. Also, the world should always work together and cooperate to overcome the coronavirus pandemic and get ready for new forms of variant coronaviruses.