Thread by @mvankerkhove

Short 🧵

There is a lot of concern over the Delta (B.1.617.2) variant and there should be. The #SARSCoV2 virus is dangerous, & more transmissible variants are even more dangerous.

(Keep reading…)

@WHO #COVID19

https://twitter.com/NoticiasONU/status/1404467455506976773

What we know: available analyses show that there is increased transmissibility of delta, more than the ancestral virus, more than alpha variant. We are seeing convergent evolution.

There is a suggestion of increased severity, but more info is needed to understand this.

Diagnostics work; many studies are underway related to vaccines, but available results suggest vaccines work against severe disease & death.

@WHO #COVID19

We know public health & social measures work against alpha, beta, gamma & delta VOCs, but they need to be used strategically, appropriately & must be supported by governments, communities & individuals, & they likely need to be implemented for longer periods

#COVID19 @WHO

Let’s not forget that we have the knowledge & tools to prevent infections, care for those who are sick; significantly reduce the spread amongst those infected; save lives & save livelihoods.

#COVID19 @WHO

We cannot forget this.

Vaccinations are critical, but they are not reaching those most in need in all countries. Yet.

Public health and social measures must receive the same amount of attention as vaccination.

We can save lives now, while we continue to increase vaccination coverage.

Thank you 🇳🇴 for your support on studying PHSM.

https://twitter.com/WHO/status/1404456452878569473

With new VOCs, several safe & effective vaccines not yet reaching those @ risk around the 🌎& an exhausted world…

It’s not time to let up, we have to continue to drive ⬇️ transmission, & save lives now.

We can do this. We have to. We must.

#COVID19 @WHO @DrTedros @DrMikeRyan

More info on the Delta variant can be found in WHO’s #COVID19 Weekly Epi Reports found here:

who.int/emergencies/di…

Always check for the latest WHO publications. We are updating all the time!

. @WHO brief update on children and #COVID19

Let’s be mindful & factual with statements about variants & kids. Children & adolescents have always been at risk of infection & can transmit. VOC can infect children but key factors include: mixing patterns…
fb.watch/6f6fO15XWd/

… natural & vaccine-derived immunity different age groups, interventions in place, adherence, etc … I have not seen data, nor have we heard from any research that VOCs, incl Delta, are targeting kids.

Whichever #SARSCoV2 variant is circulating, it will infect people if we let it- younger and older people. There has been ⬆️transmission among all age groups that remain susceptible.

We can suppress transmission of VOCs, incl Delta, & we can (keep)open schools with measures in place. It’s a matter of priorities.

As I’ve said many times, there is no inevitable outcome of #COVID19 - we can choose it’s ending. We must.

#VaccinEquity @WHO @DrTedros @DrMikeRyan