As many of us already know, COVID-19 cases are spiking again. As of today, August 21st, the total number of cases worldwide is about 211,884,554. Out of those, we have had around 4,433,530 deaths. Why? The Delta variant. 

The Basics

The Delta variant, otherwise known as the B.1.617 variant, is, by far, the most infectious and transmissible variant of all the COVID 19 strains. It is about 55% more transmittable than the Alpha variant, which previously created a spike in the number of cases. 

We saw the first Delta variant case identified in India in late 2020. Then, by April of 2021, it caused a disastrous second wave there. Later, it spread to the UK and caused a spike in COVID cases there. It became responsible for around 90% of the cases in the UK. Now, in the US, the numbers are rising again. Out of all the COVID cases in the US, 83% are of the Delta variant. Research has shown that the variant is twice as likely to lead to hospitalization than the Alpha variant. 

Symptoms include, but are not limited to, headaches, sore throat, runny nose/cold, and (high) fever. These symptoms are slightly different from those of the original COVID-19 virus, which included shortness of breath, loss of smell, and persistent cough. 

Are fully vaccinated people immune to the Delta variant?

Fully vaccinated people have caught the Delta variant, but the numbers are significantly less for vaccinated people than unvaccinated people. Nationally, 97% of patients currently hospitalized with COVID are unvaccinated. The vaccines have shown to be highly effective against all current variants. Vaccinated people can be subject to the Delta variant. On the other hand, their symptoms are not nearly as bad as those of unvaccinated people. 

This academic year, in-person schooling in Frisco began on Thursday, August 12th. For this year, virtual schooling is only an option for grades under 7th grade, so the rest of the students must go face-to-face, and face coverings are optional, which might pose a threat with the Delta variant causing cases to rise. 

In conclusion, let’s all do our jobs and get vaccinated. Yes, the vaccine does not provide 100% protection against the Delta variant. However, do keep in mind that it still provides a sufficient amount of protection. Make sure you wear a mask when leaving your house and continue to social distance. Thank you for reading, and do check out the rest of our articles!