New data from the Robert Koch Institute has revealed that the Delta variant of coronavirus is now the dominant strain in Germany.

Delta variant sweeps through Germany

The latest data from the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) shows that the Delta strain has become the most common variant of coronavirus in Germany. Now accounting for nearly two-thirds of new coronavirus cases detected by PCR tests, the share of infections caused by the Delta variant has almost doubled within a week. However, there has only been a slight increase in the number of infections, and the seven-day incidence rate remains low.

Previously, it was the Alpha variant that was dominant in Germany, having a 91 percent share at the end of May. However, by the end of June, its share had fallen to just 33 percent. Other variants of coronavirus have been detected in Germany, albeit in very low numbers.

Professor Christine Falk, President of the German Society for Immunology, pinpointed the Delta variant as a threat that could cause infections to start rising steeply again. "There are only a few new cases overall, but many of them are Delta," she said. "We have had increasing numbers again since Tuesday. One can already draw the conclusion that this variant is helping more people become infected again, because it is easy for the virus to jump from one person to the next."

Experts warn that infections might rise significantly again

Despite Germany’s vaccination drive being in full swing, experts fear that infections might start to rise again in Germany. With coronavirus restrictions being gradually eased and people returning to some semblance of normality, there is a very real chance that the situation could quickly deteriorate. Even now, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control has started to detect infections that have been directly linked with the ongoing European Championships.

Falk has urged people to keep wearing masks and adhering to coronavirus measures. She suggested that, with the current level of infections, society can beat the Delta variant and stop cases from rising. However, if infections do start being detected in large numbers, strict coronavirus restrictions may have to be enforced once again.

The RKI has also warned that the current coronavirus cases might be underrepresented as, according to a study by Mainz University Medical Centre, more than 40 percent of people with the virus do not know they are infected.