According to the latest situation report on the genetic diversity of the new SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus in Portugal, of the total Delta variant sequences analysed, 62 have the additional K417N mutation in the Spike protein (the so-called Delta Plus), which has maintained a relative frequency below 1 percent from the week of 14 to 20 June.

No case was detected in the week analyzed between the 26 July and 1 August (week 30), reports the National Institute of Health (INSA).

The INSA report indicates that, to date, 13,807 sequences of the genome of the new coronavirus, obtained from samples collected in more than 100 labs, hospitals and institutions, representing 298 municipalities in Portugal, have been analysed.

The institute also states that an average of 588 sequences per week has been analysed since the beginning of June and that these samples involved laboratories distributed throughout the 18 districts of mainland Portugal and the Autonomous Regions of the Azores and Madeira, covering an average of 118 councils per week.

The Bioinformatics Nucleus of the Department of Infectious Diseases of the Ricardo Jorge National Health Institute (INSA) has already analysed 13,807 sequences of the genome of the new coronavirus, obtained from samples collected in more than 100 labs, hospitals and institutions, representing 298 municipalities in Portugal.

The SARS-CoV-2 genetic diversity report indicates that the frequency of the Delta variant reaches 100 percent in the regions of Lisbon and Vale do Tejo, Alentejo and Algarve and in the autonomous regions of the Azores and Madeira.

It also states that "the relative frequency of the Beta (B.1.351) and Gamma (P.1) variants, initially associated with South Africa and Brazil (Manaus), respectively, remains low and without a growing trend, without any case of a strain detected at week 30, according to the data ".

The INSA adds that have been no new cases of the Lambda variant (C.37) were detected, "which has circulation in the regions of Peru and Chile".

Among other "variants of interest" circulating in Portugal, the INSA highlights variants B.1.621 (first detected in Colombia) and Eta (B.1.525 - initially detected in Nigeria), which have mutations in the Spike protein that are shared with some of the "concern variants".

However, these variants have a low frequency in Portugal, having been detected below 0.8 percent (B.1.621) or 0.3 percent (Eta B.1.525) since week 25 (21 to 27 June).

Since June, the Ricardo Jorge Institute has adopted a new strategy for continuous monitoring of the genetic diversity of the new coronavirus in Portugal, which is based on weekly sampling of national scope.