Delta variant creates new COVID danger in Australia, as early data suggests it is more severe and more transmissible
Health experts are preparing for a "nightmare scenario" in Australia, with early data from both overseas examples and the local outbreak showing the Delta strain is more severe as well as being harder to contain. Key points: Experts say early studies indicate the Delta strain is putting more people in hospital in a serious condition The new data, on top of initial data highlighting its increased transmissibility, is putting intensive care wards on edge One infectious disease expert described it as a "double whammy" The warning comes as early data from the NSW outbreak shows more people are in hospital intensive care wards than during the peak of Victoria's second-wave outbreak, which had substantially more active cases. NSW ICU data: 54 cases in ICU 7 in their 20s, 6 in their 30s, 2 in their 40s, 16 are in their 50s, 14 in their 60s and 9 are in their 70s Of the 54 people in ICU: 48 not vaccinated 6 people received their first dose 0 fully vaccinated Delta's 'double whammy' However, Professor Baxter said despite her hesitation to compare the two outbreaks, she believed it was "very likely" the Delta strain was more severe. Professor Tony Cunningham, from Sydney's Westmead Institute for Medical Research, said it was becoming "pretty clear" from overseas studies that Delta appeared to lead to a "two- to three-fold increase in hospitalisation".
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