Highly transmissible Covid variant ‘poised to take hold’ in Europe

A healthcare worker prepares a dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine (Arnulfo Franco/AP)

The World Health Organisation’s Europe director has warned the highly transmissible Covid-19 variant first identified in India is “poised to take hold in the region” as many countries prepare to ease restrictions and allow more social gatherings and travel across borders.

During a press briefing on Thursday, the WHO’s Dr Hans Kluge said the Delta variant has shown signs of being able to evade some vaccines and warned that some people in vulnerable groups remain unprotected.