Delta variant now most dominant strain of COVID-19 in Manitoba

WINNIPEG -

Even though Manitoba's COVID-19 case count continues to be low, a new variant of concern is now the most dominant strain in the province.

Ever since variants started to be discovered in Manitoba, the Alpha variant (B.1.1.7) has been the most dominant. But in recent weeks that has changed, as the Delta variant (B.1.617.2) has now taken over that title.

According to the province, from July 26 to Aug. 1, 33.7 per cent of cases were the Delta variant. This was more than the 20.5 per cent of the Alpha variant in the same week and also non-variant cases at 32.7 per cent.

In the previous week, July 19 to 25, the percentage was even higher for Delta with 37.7 per cent.

To date, there have been 857 Delta cases in Manitoba and five Delta plus cases recorded as well.

Manitoba added 27 new Delta cases on Tuesday.

Epidemiologist Cynthia Carr said every person who gets infected with the Delta variant has the possibility of infecting another six people on average.

"Those six people could infect 36 people. Those 36 people (could infect) 216. Just three rounds of connections," said Carr.

Dr. Anand Kumar is an ICU physician in Winnipeg and he said the current numbers were expected.

"I worry we haven’t learned our lesson. We are constantly making decisions based on what's happening on the ground now, as opposed to anticipating what is almost certainly going to be happening in four to six weeks," said Kumar.

He added it is likely the Delta variant will fuel the fourth wave of the pandemic and it will affect the unvaccinated and children.

"My guess is that as much as the adult ICUs are going to be under some strain, I think this time the children's ICU will be hit pretty hard."

Carr said she thinks the province should have kept the indoor mask mandate longer, adding, even though there is a high vaccination rate right now, it still isn't at the critical threshold.

"Until we are there, this version of the virus will continue to look for every opportunity it can find and just power through all unprotected people," said Carr.