The rapid spread of the Delta coronavirus variant has driven a 50 per cent rise in infections in England since May, according to a large prevalence study led by Imperial College London.

The government said the data supported Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s decision to push back the end of Covid restrictions in England to July 19, citing the threat of the Delta variant first identified in India, and the need to vaccinate more people.

The latest round of the REACT-1 prevalence survey, conducted between May 20 and June 7, found prevalence was 0.15pc, compared to 0.1pc in the last set of data from late April to early May.

A man takes a swab sample for the coronavirus from his son at a surge testing site in London, Britain, May 14. — Reuters
A man takes a swab sample for the coronavirus from his son at a surge testing site in London, Britain, May 14. — Reuters

Read more at Reuters here.

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