Delta Variant of COVID-19 Grips the Nation

According to Rochelle Walensky, Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Delta variant of COVID-19 now accounts for 83% of reported and sequenced cases in the U.S. The variant, also known as B.1.617.2, is more contagious than other strains; “The World Health Organization (WHO) has called this version of the virus ‘the fastest and the fittest” (Yale Medicine).

In the last two weeks, the estimated rate of COVID-19 cases stemming from the Delta variant increased by more than 30%. This rate of increase is undoubtedly fueled by lagging vaccination rates nationwide; only half of all eligible Americans have been fully vaccinated.

Officials continue to impress the importance of getting vaccinated, citing CDC data that shows 99.5% of COVID-19 deaths occurred among unvaccinated individuals (The Hill).

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