In charge of the Microbial Genomics Laboratory in the institution, the scientist also pointed out that ‘it is likely’ that this variant will become dominant in the coming weeks.

Infectious disease specialist Susana Cabrera explained that the cases of infection detected at University Clinics hospital, without being linked to any travels, speak of a community circulation of the Delta variant.

She pointed out the cases are possibly not very acutely expressed with symptoms due to the fact that their emergence took place at times with high percentages of immunizing vaccination, although an increase in Covid-19 cases was registered anyway.

The hospital outbreak affected at least 19 people, including patients, doctors and nurses, while a focus was identified in parliament with three positive cases, more than 100 people nearby in quarantines and suspended work committee sessions.

At the same time, the National Education Administration confirmed 186 positive cases, 156 of them only in the first 12 days of September, and most of them corresponding to unvaccinated children.

pgh/lcr