‘There's always new strains, that's what bugs do’: USC doctor on Delta variant spreading fast Jun. 28, 2021Coronavirus MORE A young woman reacts as she receives a dose of Covishield (COVID-19 vaccine) during a special vaccination drive in Beawar. The first case of the Delta-plus variant of coronavirus in Rajasthan was found in Bikaner, India on June 27, 2021. Photo by Sumit Saraswat/Pacific Press/Sipa USA The delta variant of COVID-19 was first identified in India and is now surging in the United Kingdom and South Africa, where travel restrictions have been eased. Israel, which has the highest percentage of vaccinated residents, also faces a delta variant outbreak, but they’re not imposing any shutdown orders.