Daily COVID-19 Update 2 July 2021
Vietnam: Authorities continue to enforce COVID-19 and update the restrictions nationwide as of 2 July 2021.
1. The Delta COVID-19 variant is more infectious – but there's 'promising' data on vaccines and deadliness
The Delta variant of COVID-19 has changed the way Australia is dealing with the pandemic. It's more infectious, has different symptoms, and has been described as everything from a "tricky bugger" to a "guerilla fighter" by state politicians. But as the Delta variant spreads, experts are learning more about how it works. Here are some of the most common questions you have about it.
- How contagious is the Delta variant of COVID-19?
It's far more infectious than the virus we were dealing with last year. In the United Kingdom the Delta variant only emerged in April, but it has quickly taken over as the dominant form of the virus there. Experts estimate it could be about 50 per cent more transmissible than the Alpha variant, which was already about 50 per cent more transmissible than the original virus found in Wuhan.
- What are the Delta variant symptoms to watch out for?
Experts are still learning about the Delta variant, but the symptoms do seem to be different to the "original" coronavirus.
Previously fever, persistent cough and loss of taste or smell were the top symptoms to watch out for.
But with Delta, a headache is the most common symptom, followed by a sore throat, runny nose and fever.
- Is the Delta variant more deadly?
Because the variant is so new, research into it is in early days.
- How at risk are children and young people from Delta?
There is research from overseas showing younger people could be more likely to be infected than older people.
- How effective are vaccines against the Delta variant?
The Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccines on offer in Australia both provide protection against the Delta variant.
- Why is there a Delta variant?
Viruses mutating over time is a normal process. Every time a virus infects someone, it makes thousands of copies of itself. But occasionally, the information it is copying goes wrong, and a bit of the genetic code could get changed, or swapped. Most of the time those little "mistakes" do nothing. But sometimes they change how the virus behaves.
Source: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-07-02/delta-coronavirus-variant-symptoms-vaccines-spread/100255804
2. US pledges further Covid-19 vaccine support for Vietnam
The U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan has promised to help Vietnam acquire Covid-19 vaccines. He made the commitment during discussions over telephone Thursday with Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh on bilateral relations and international and regional issues, according to a statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.