What We Know About the Delta COVID Variant

The Delta variant was first identified in India in December and swept through the country and Great Britain as well, increasing their demand for medical care. The first Delta case in the US was diagnosed in March and is now the dominant strain in the country.

Being educated about the virus helps you be more cautious. Here are a few insights into what professionals have learned about the Delta variant:

• It’s more contagious than other virus strains
  According to the estimates done by CDC, the Delta variant made up more than 20% of the cases in the US. By the end of July, it caused more than 80% of new US COVID cases due to its highly contagious nature.

  It spreads 50% faster than the alpha variant, which was 50% more contagious than the original strain of SARS-COV-2.

• Unvaccinated people are at risk
  With only half of US citizens vaccinated, they are most at risk of infection. Kids and adults under 50 are 2.5 times more likely to be infected as well. And so far, no vaccine has been approved for children 5 to 12 in the US.
• Vaccination is the best protection against Delta
  Experts say the most important thing you can do is to protect yourself from the Delta variant. You must get both shots of the Pfizer and Modern vaccines and make sure to follow the prevention guidelines provided by the CDC.

Do you need help with COVID-19 testing and other medical assistance?

Vijay Patel, MD is an internal medicine doctor in Matawan, New Jersey that helps families maintain their overall well-being, so they can live a happy and healthy life in their community. Visit our family clinic in New Jersey today.