Delta variant exploits low vaccine rates, easing of rules

UNDATED (AP)- The latest alarming coronavirus variant is exploiting low global vaccination rates and a rush to ease pandemic restrictions. That’s adding new urgency to the drive to get more shots in arms and slow its supercharged spread. The vaccines most used in Western countries still appear to offer strong protection against the highly contagious delta variant. The mutation was first identified in India and now spreading in more than 90 other countries. The World Health Organization warned this week that the trifecta of easier-to-spread strains, insufficiently immunized populations and a drop in mask use and other public health measures will delay the end of the pandemic.