What makes Covid-19 delta variant such a threat? Ten questions answered

The delta variant has some characteristics that give it a better chance of causing an infection, which means it escapes initial shield provided by antibodies, but vaccinated people are at a lower risk

A surge in Covid-19 cases following the emergence of the highly transmissible delta variant has sparked fresh health concerns and raised questions about the safety and pace of reopening, even in places where vaccination rates are high such as the U.K. Sam Fazeli, a Bloomberg Opinion contributor who covers the pharmaceutical industry for Bloomberg Intelligence, answers questions about the variant and its potential threat. The conversation has been edited and condensed.

The delta variant has caused an uptick in Covid cases, especially among the unvaccinated but also among those who have received their shots. Isn’t it true, though, that vaccines