Indian COVID Variant Now In 48 Countries – Including Australia

The Indian COVID-19 variant, B.1.617.2, has now spread to 48 countries and every continent excluding Antarctica. This variant is thought to be more infectious than previous strains. 2,915 cases of the variant have been recorded in the UK, with 776 in India, although the latter is likely to be much lower than the true number of cases. 74 cases have been recorded in Australia.

This strain was behind the NSW community infection seen earlier this month, and is thought to spread faster. Early research suggests that vaccines are effective against it, but more research is needed. Unfortunately, variants such as this will continue to arise and cause more outbreaks until we can vaccinate more of the world and reduce transmission.

The CPAP Clinic is a leading Australian provider of Respiratory, Sleep Disorders, Cardiology and PPE services and products. Based in Sydney, it has a network of 40 clinics nationwide.