Highly contagious Delta variant sweeps Asia, prompting curbs as vaccination remains tepid Friday, 02 July 2021 8:55 PM [ Last Update: Friday, 02 July 2021 8:55 PM ] People are seen at a market amidst the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in the old quarters of New Delhi, India, October 19, 2020. (Photo by Reuters) The highly contagious Delta variant of the coronavirus is surging through Asia this week, with record numbers of infections in Australia and South Korea, prompting some countries to tighten curbs and others to hasten vaccination. The variant, first detected in India in December last year, has spread to about 100 countries and the World Health Organization warned recently that it could soon become the dominant form of the virus. It is also driving a spike in cases in Japan, casting a pall over this month's Olympic Games.