Timor Leste Finds First Local Case Of Delta Variant

JAKARTA - Timor Leste reports its first case of locally transmitted COVID-19 of the highly contagious Delta variant. This has the local health ministry worried that the cases will trigger a spike in infections.

Genome sequencing by Australia's Doherty Institute in early August found that of 27 samples from people infected with the coronavirus in the Ermera region, 12 were the Delta variant.

Ermera has the highest active cases and lowest vaccination rate in Timor-Leste, which borders Indonesia, where the Delta variant has sparked Asia's worst Coronavirus outbreak.

The ministry in an Aug. 8 report said transmission of the Delta variant "is likely to lead to a significant rise in the number of cases, including severe cases and deaths," and those with limited access to the vaccine will be the most vulnerable group.

Timor-Leste, with a population of 1.3 million, has recorded only 11,579 cases and 28 deaths since the start of the pandemic. About 8.5 percent of the population has been fully vaccinated using the AstraZeneca and Sinovac vaccines.

Samples from other regions have not been tested, but health experts say rising case numbers elsewhere suggest Delta is also there.

Danina Coelho, the government's spokeswoman for vaccinations, said the Ermera cluster showed how important it was to expand vaccine coverage.

"The government is very worried about the case, especially because the vaccination rate is very low", he said.

"That's why the government is strengthening vaccination efforts".