DELTA variant cases have risen by 54,000 in a week – up by a third in just seven days.

As infections continue to increase throughout the country the strain has still got a grip on the UK.

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Two new variants are also being monitored by Public Health England – B.1.619 and B.1.629.

Delta variant makes up around 99 per cent cases found in Britain.

A total of 216,249 infections have now been identified in the UK – up by 54,268 from 161,981 cases in the previous week, a rise of 34 per cent.

Dr Jenny Harries, Chief Executive of the UK Health Security Agency said:  “The data continues to show that the sharp increase in cases that we are seeing is not being followed by a similar increase in hospitalisation and death.

"This is because two doses of the available vaccines offer a high level of protection against the Delta variant.

"Getting both jabs is the best way to ensure you and the people you love remain safe, so we once again urge everyone to come forward as soon as they are eligible.

“As we approach the planned end of restrictions, we must remain cautious and careful.

VARIANT SPREADS

"Cases are rising across the country, and whilst the vaccines offer excellent protection, they do not offer 100 per cent protection.

"Be sensible, and follow “hands, face, space, fresh air” at all times and make sure to get tested if required.”

Of the 216,249 cases, 180,643 have been in England, 28,559 in Scotland, 3,666 in Wales and 3,381 in Northern Ireland.

It comes as a study found people who have already caught Covid are now at risk of being reinfected by the Delta variant – as it is four times more likely to beat antibodies.

Lab analysis also found a single dose of either the Pfizer or AstraZeneca vaccines provided just 10 per cent protection against the mutation which originated in India. UK research previously found the protection to be at around 30 per cent.

The study, published in the journal Nature, found the Delta variant is four times more likely to overcome protective antibodies from a previous infection compared to the UK’s Alpha variant.

The findings help explain why the virus is spreading so rapidly across the country, particularly among young adults who are less likely to be double-jabbed.

Delta variant hospitalisations and deaths:

A total of 1,904 people had been admitted to hospital in England with the Delta variant of Covid-19 as of June 21, Public Health England said.

Some 1,283 of the 1,904 people were under the age of 50 while 615 were 50 or over.

Of the 1,283 under 50, 987 (77 per cent) were unvaccinated, 106 (8 per cent) were less than 21 days after their first dose of vaccine, 118 (9 per cent) 21 or more days after their first dose of vaccine and 48 (4 per cent) were fully vaccinated.

Of the 615 aged 50 or over, 195 (32 per cent) were unvaccinated, 11 (2 per cent) less than 21 days after their first dose of vaccine, 140 (23 per cent) 21 or more days after their first dose of vaccine and 265 (43 per cent) were fully vaccinated.

As of June 21, there had been 257 deaths in England of people who were confirmed as having the Delta variant and who died within 28 days of a positive test.

Of this number, 26 were under the age of 50 and 231 were aged 50 or over.

Of the 231 aged 50 or over, 71 were unvaccinated, one was within 21 days of a first dose of vaccine, 41 at least 21 days after one dose of vaccine and 116 had received both doses.

Of the 26 under 50, three were at least 21 days after a first dose of vaccine, two had received both doses and 21 were unvaccinated.

Cases of the "Delta plus" strain do not appear to have increased much however, going up to 44 from 41.

Delta Plus has been found in nine other countries – USA, India, Portugal, Switzerland, Japan, Poland, Nepal, Russia and China.

PHE is not calling it "Delta plus", and said the World Health Organisation is considering it simply part of Delta, but is monitoring the cases.

New data also show that secondary attack rates (the likelihood of an infection occurring) amongst household contacts of cases with Delta has continued to fall.

It is estimated to be at at 10.3 per cent likelihood of transmission for exposure events in week commencing 7 June 2021 – such as watching the Euros.

But despite this continued fall, secondary attack rates for both household and non-household contacts of cases with Delta are still higher than for Alpha.

Maps revealed how rapidly the Delta variant has become in a matter of weeks – and are a forewarning of dangerous future strains.

Delta, first identified in India, makes up almost every new Covid case in the UK (95 per cent).

But it only arrived on British soil in mid-April, mostly in international travellers.

And in no more than six weeks, the Delta strain went from a handful of cases to making up the majority of infections in the UK.

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