The Washington Post produced a summary of the current status of Delta on July 29, 2021. It based this on CDC findings and acknowledged research data. Their article confirms the Delta variant dominating COVID-19 transmits faster than MERS, SARS, Ebola, Common Cold, Seasonal Flu, 1918 ‘Spanish’ Flu, and Smallpox. It is moreover as infectious as Chickenpox, which also transmits between people in infected coughs and sneezes.
How Delta Variant Dominating COVID-19 Is More Intense
The Delta variant causes higher concentrations of virus in infected people, and remains infectious longer:
1… It shows up sooner in larger clusters during testing
2… Delta remains detectable for up to eighteen days
3… The risk of reinfection with Delta may be higher
4… This may take longer than 6 months to materialize
There is also evidence these greater concentrations increase the risk of hospitalization. That is because Canadian researchers found higher odds of entering hospital, ICU admission, and death. While scientists in Singapore noted greater probabilities of pneumonia, ICU admission, and terminal disease.
Preliminary Findings on Effectiveness of mRNA Vaccines
mRNA vaccines Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna are showing up to 90% effectiveness against the Delta variant dominating COVID-19. This protection may endure up to 5 months, or longer according to emerging data. Breakthrough cases are generally less serious, and recover sooner.
However, we are not through the woods yet. CDC recommends we continue with universal masking at this time. In fact, it says this is essential. Older vaccinated people still have a higher probability of severe disease in break-through cases. However, hospitalization and death continue to be less-likely overall.
Vaccines therefore continue to be the key in a struggle where the rules of engagement changed. This is because mRNA-vaccinated people are 10-fold – or greater – less likely to face severe disease or death. And moreover, their risk of infection is three times lower.
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Preview Image: Delta Twice as Contagious
