Germany Reports Delta Variant Cases Have Doubled in 1 Week

Cases of the Delta variant of COVID-19 have nearly doubled in Germany within one week, according to a weekly report released Wednesday by the Robert Koch Institute, the country's disease control center, the Associated Press reported.

The variant's rapid spread has allowed it to become the dominant strain in Germany, according to the center. Of all new infections in Germany documented by the end of June, 59 percent were caused by the Delta variant, the report said.

Germany's vaccine offerings include Pfizer/BioNTech, Moderna, Johnson & Johnson and AstraZeneca, while others are in clinical trials, according to the COVID-19 Vaccine Tracker.

Currently, 39.9 percent, or about 33.2 million people, are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 in Germany. A higher percentage, 57.1 percent, or about 47.5 million, have received at least one dose of a vaccine.

For more reporting from the Associated Press, see below.

The U.K. has recorded more than 30,000 daily coronavirus infections for the first time since January, just as the British government prepares to lift all remaining lockdown restrictions in England.

Government figures showed another 32,548 confirmed cases on Wednesday, the highest level since January 23.

For much of the spring, infections were below the 5,000 mark. But the arrival of the more contagious Delta variant, first identified in India, has likely caused cases to spike.

Despite the increase, the British government says it is still aiming to lift all remaining lockdown restrictions in England on July 19, a move that many scientists say is dangerous.

Health Secretary Sajid Javid says cases could hit a daily high of 100,000 this summer, a level of infection not reached during previous waves of the virus.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson's government is hoping the rapid rollout of vaccines has created a wall of immunity. That, it says, will limit the number of hospitalizations and deaths.