What’s up with the Delta variant?

From: Paranoid

Dear Paranoid,

The Delta variant is the most infectious version of the COVID-19 virus to date. First identified in India in the December of 2020, it quickly overwhelmed India’s healthcare system and spread worldwide (Wendler). Today, it is found in over 130 countries, including China. Here, we answer some of the most pressing questions about the Delta variant.

Location currently: The Delta variant currently exists in over 135 countries around the world, with the highest cases in the United Kingdom and the United States (Lee). In China, there has been an average of 27 cases between August and September, with no clear numbers as to which cases have been transmitted by the Delta variant and which by the regular strain of COVID-19.

Current situation: The new strain of COVID-19 has ravaged more parts of the world than is felt in Shanghai. The identified characteristics of the Delta strain are that it is more than 2x as contagious as previous variants and causes worse illness for infected patients (“Delta”).

Should we be worried? Currently, there are four main strains of COVID-19; these have been named by the World Health Organisation as the Alpha strain, detected first in the U.K in the September of 2020; the Beta strain, detected first in South Africa in May; the Gamma strain, detected first in Brazil in November, and the Delta strain, detected first in India (“Tracking”) All four strains are found across China (Ellyatt). However, Shanghai remains a low-risk city. Since January 21st, 22 locally transmitted cases have been recorded, according to the Shanghai Center for Disease Control and Prevention (“Shanghai”). In contrast, there have been more than 5,000 cases recorded just September 2nd in New York, a city with a fraction of the population of Shanghai (“New York”). Therefore, with the proper precautions, the risk of infection remains low in Shanghai.

Precautions to take: As with other strains of COVID-19, the precautions remain the same for civilians. Healthcare professionals recommend wearing a mask indoors and outdoors, washing or sanitising hands often, and spending more time outdoors than indoor in the coming colder months to aid the immune system (“Delta”). One should also get vaccinated as soon as possible. Even though the most established brands, namely the Pfizer, Moderna, and AstraZeneca vaccines, are shown to be less effective on the Delta variant (Hart), and vaccinated individuals can still become infected, carry, and transmit the virus, two complete doses prevent the symptoms from worsening (Hart).

Works Cited

Wendler, Ronda. “COVID-19’s Delta Variant: What You Need to Know.” MD Anderson Cancer Center, MD Anderson Cancer Center, 30 June 2021, www.mdanderson.org/cancerwise/covid-19-new-delta-variant–what-you-need-to-know.h00-159461634.html#:~:text=Originally%20known%20as%20B.1.617.2%2C%20the%20Delta%20variant%20is,the%20U.S.%3F%20It’s%20becoming%20more%20widespread%20every%20day.

Lee, Yen Nee. “3 Charts Show How Far COVID Delta Variant Has Spread around the World.” CNBC, CNBC, 5 Aug. 2021, www.cnbc.com/2021/08/06/covid-charts-show-how-far-delta-variant-has-spread-around-the-world.html#:~:text=The%20delta%20variant%2C%20which%20was%20first%20detected%20in,countries%20globally%2C%20according%20to%20the%20World%20Health%20Organization.

“Tracking Sars-Cov-2 Variants.” World Health Organization, World Health Organization, 2 Sept. 2021, www.who.int/en/activities/tracking-SARS-CoV-2-variants/.

Ellyatt, Holly. “After Being Ravaged by the Delta Covid Variant, How Is India Doing Now?” CNBC, CNBC, 23 July 2021, www.cnbc.com/2021/07/23/coronavirus-how-india-is-doing-now-after-delta-variant-spread.html.

“New York Coronavirus Map and Case Count.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 3 Sept. 2021, www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/us/new-york-covid-cases.html.

“Shanghai Now Low-Risk, Outbreak under Control.” Shanghai Now LOW-RISK, Outbreak under Control, Shanghai Municipal People’s Government, 19 Feb. 2021, www.shanghai.gov.cn/nw48088/20210219/7ddb4fcc3bef4317b58c6e2a86ef3bf5.html.

“Delta Variant: What We Know about the Science.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 26 Aug. 2021, www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/variants/delta-variant.html.

Hart, Robert. “Vaccines Are Less Effective against DELTA-AND Pfizer’s Protection Wanes RAPIDLY-BUT Are the Best Way to Protect AGAINST Covid, Large Study Finds.” Forbes, Forbes Magazine, 19 Aug. 2021, www.forbes.com/sites/roberthart/2021/08/19/covid-vaccines-less-effective-against-delta-variant-and-pfizers-effectiveness-wanes-rapidly-large-study-finds/?sh=357d149244f2.