Delta ‘more than twice as deadly’ as original strain
Risk of hospitalisation and death higher with Delta, which also affects younger patients: study
The Delta variant is more than twice as deadly as the original strain of the SARS-CoV-2, virus, Canadian researchers say.
Epidemiologists found the risk of hospitalisation, ICU admission and death due to COVID-19 is higher among all variants of concern (VOC), but especially the Delta strain.
Those with Delta infections faced double the risk of hospitalisation, more than triple the risk of admission to ICU and a 2.3-fold greater chance of dying than those with the original strain.
With Alpha, Beta and Gamma VOC infections risks of hospitalisation were 52% higher, admission to ICU was 89% higher and death was 51% higher than for infection with the original strain of the virus.
