Covid-19: Rio de Janeiro confirms two new cases of Delta variant

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The State Health Secretariat of Rio de Janeiro has confirmed two new cases of the Delta variant of the new coronavirus (B.1.617), which causes Covid-19. According to health officials, the patients are a 30-year-old man and a 22-year-old woman, residents of the Baixada Fluminense suburbs just west of the capital.

The cases of patients resident in Seropédica and São João de Meriti, were registered on June 16 and 17. The municipalities were notified and are investigating whether they are autochthonous transmissions, that is, occurring within the state, or imported.

Delta is also known as the Indian variant and has spread to almost 100 countries. A case of the Indian strain had already been noted in the state in May of this year. Despite this, the P.1 strain (Brazilian) continues to be the most common in the state.

In a note, the State Health Department stressed that the prevention actions and the methods of diagnosis and treatment for Covid-19 remain the same, regardless of the variant.