The contagious Delta variant of the Coronavirus accounts for 20% of cases in France

The Delta variant accounts for around 20% of the cases of coronavirus in France and it is on its way to become the dominant one in the country, Health Minister Olivier Véran warned on Tuesday.

This variant, originated in India, “it has not increased the (global) number of cases”, but if it is “more contagious“, it is foreseeable that it will end up being the dominant one, said Véran in statements to the station France Info.

The minister explained that, despite the expansion of this variant, the incidence rate “keep going down” in the country, since it is currently at 18.7 per 100,000 inhabitants in the last seven days, according to official data.

However, he asked “humility and vigilance” because “it is a very contagious variant that reminds us of the importance of the challenge”.

France accumulates 5.77 million cases due to the pandemic, although hospital incidence continues to decline progressively while the vaccination campaign continues, and practically half of the population has already received at least one dose of immunization.