Is The Delta Strain The Biggest COVID-19 Threat?

After it’s discovery in India, we have seen the Delta strain quickly spread across the world. CNBC states, “In a relatively short amount of time, the strain supplanted the alpha variant to become dominant in the country (in mid-June delta was responsible for 90% of all infections, a government study showed) — and this happened despite the U.K.’s advanced vaccination rate.” The original Alpha strain is continuing to decrease in the amount of cases we see, but that’s now semi-irrelevant. The Delta strain is taking over and has built a growing fear of another shut down. CNBC reports, “Meanwhile, cases attributed to the delta strain now make up around 20% of newly diagnosed cases.” This is a fairly large number and is only growing rapidly, and now, “the variant has a doubling time of about two weeks. (CNBC). Give this strain another month or two, and it will be completely dominant.

It is reported by CNBC that, “Both strains have proved to be far more transmissible than the original coronavirus that first emerged in China in late 2019. The World Health Organization now predicts that the delta variant — which has already spread to more than 80 countries — will become the dominant strain of the disease worldwide.” This is certainly not the news any of us wanted to hear. Just when we thought we were about in the clear, another devastating strain makes its presence known.

Fortunately, if you are fully vaccinated, there is less reason to worry. With the vaccine, you can still acquire the virus, but studies show that you are a lot less likely to be put in the hospital. Your symptoms will be less severe.

This new outbreak is all the more reason to go get vaccinated. Do your part to help end this pandemic.