topic Re: Delta is now the predominant COVID variant in the U.S. in Community Chat

Delta is now the predominant COVID variant in the U.S.

Mindy D — Wed, 07 Jul 2021 16:08:21 GMT

The highly contagious delta variant now accounts for more than 51% of COVID-19 cases in the U.S., according new estimates released by the Centers for Disease Control. The Delta variant is now the predominant variant in th U.S., accounting for 51% of COVID cases. In some areas of the country, the variant accounts for 80% of new infections. Missouri, Kansas and and Iowa are included in this 80% number. In the Western states of Utah and and Colorado, the variant is responsible for 74.3% of new cases and in Texas, Louisiana, Oaklahoma and Colorado, new cases of the delta variant account for 58.8% of new cases. It does appear that vaccines do provide good protection against the delta variant though the protection, based on research coming from Pfizer, appears to show that its vaccine's protection against the delta variant is not as robust as its protection against other strains. Preliminary evidence shows that Pfizer's vaccine appears to be highly effective at protecting against severe disease and death from the delta variant, but more time is needed to determine if this protection holds true as more evidence is gathered from more cases, especially in the U.S. and in infected persons with underlying health conditions. Preliminary evidence from Pfizer also shows that their vaccine could provide a good, though lesser degree of protection, against infection from the delta variant than it did against other variants. The delta variant is more transmissible than other variants and is rapidly becoming the predominant strain worldwide. Studies of vaccine effectiveness against the delta strain by other vaccine manufacturers are needed to determine their effectiveness. In the graph below, you can compare the increase in new COVID cases by strain, between the weeks of 6/19 2021 and 7/3/2021 to see the dramatic rise in new cases the delta variant, B.1617.2

My information comes, in part from, "Delta is Now the Dominant Coronavirus Variant in the U.S.", NPR online news, July 6, 2021. 8:23 PM ET

My source also includes the most current graph from the CDC, as of July 3, 2021.

"Protection Provided By The Pfizer Vaccine May Be Fading, Israeli Officials Say," NPR online news, July 6, 2021, 4:38 P.M., by Rob Stein

Re: Delta is now the predominant COVID variant in the U.S.

ThinkingOutLoud — Wed, 07 Jul 2021 15:42:05 GMT

Source?

Re: Delta is now the predominant COVID variant in the U.S.

phoenixbrd — Wed, 07 Jul 2021 15:46:26 GMT

@Mindy D Our resident poster of glad tidings! Just kidding, of course, I love the facts and the timeliness of your posts....much appreciation.

I'm wondering...aren't these contradictory statements? For those of us who received Pfizer will want to know:

It does appear that vaccines do provide good protection against the delta variant though the protection, based on research coming from Pfizer, appears to show that its vaccine's protection against the delta variant is not as robust as its protection against other strains. Preliminary evidence shows that Pfizer's vaccine appears to be highly effective at protecting against severe disease and death from the delta variant, but more time is needed to determine if this protection holds true as more evidence is garnered from more cases, especially in the U.S. and in infected persons with underlying health conditions

Re: Delta is now the predominant COVID variant in the U.S.

skatting44 — Wed, 07 Jul 2021 15:48:12 GMT

next we'll be hearing abt Lambda variant that is prevalent in Chile. Also it has to be an inaccuracy that so far no cases in the US despite thousands of new people from all over the world entering the US on a regular basis .

Re: Delta is now the predominant COVID variant in the U.S.

ThinkingOutLoud — Wed, 07 Jul 2021 16:12:28 GMT

What is quoted above only talks of cases. Keep in mind there's a big difference between cases and deaths. In point - saw this a few days ago -

New public England study of delta variant shows 44 deaths out of 53,822 (.08%)

Re: Delta is now the predominant COVID variant in the U.S.

Vivian — Wed, 07 Jul 2021 16:04:48 GMT

I have a 95 year old uncle who says he doesn't need the vaccine because he has been taking the right combination of vitamins for years and they will protect him. No, he doesn't have dementia. He is just suspicious, paranoid, and is willing to sacrifice common sense for conspiracies. He was wounded in WW2 and earned a medal for his bravery. He still has a bullet in him, and I would hate to see him die of Covid.

Unless there is a medical reason why vaccination is contraindicated, it makes no sense to avoid the shot. We already know that catching Covid is even more dangerous than it was a year ago because of this new variant. We already have evidence that the vaccines have been safe for many, many people. If one waits for 100% assurances, there aren't any...for ANY vaccine. Even if inadvertent, passing Covid onto vulnerable people is now a foolish, needless, and selfish act.

Re: Delta is now the predominant COVID variant in the U.S.

ThinkingOutLoud — Wed, 07 Jul 2021 16:06:03 GMT

@skatting44 wrote:
next we'll be hearing abt Lambda variant that is prevalent in Chile. Also it has to be an inaccuracy that so far no cases in the US despite thousands of new people from all over the world entering the US on a regular basis .

Yep. Wish people would put 2 and 2 together and see how one-sided things seem to be. (trying to figure out how to word things...)

Re: Delta is now the predominant COVID variant in the U.S.

Creek Street — Wed, 07 Jul 2021 16:07:33 GMT

Your uncle is an intellingent man.

Re: Delta is now the predominant COVID variant in the U.S.

liliblu — Wed, 07 Jul 2021 16:08:44 GMT

This was discussed on the news today.

Re: Delta is now the predominant COVID variant in the U.S.

ThinkingOutLoud — Wed, 07 Jul 2021 16:08:54 GMT

@Vivian wrote:
I have a 95 year old uncle who says he doesn't need the vaccine because he has been taking the right combination of vitamins for years and they will protect him. No, he doesn't have dementia. He is just suspicious, paranoid, and is willing to sacrifice common sense for conspiracies. He was wounded in WW2 and earned a medal for his bravery. He still has a bullet in him, and I would hate to see him die of Covid.

Unless there is a medical reason why vaccination is contraindicated, it makes no sense to avoid the shot. We already know that catching Covid is even more dangerous than it was a year ago because of this new variant. We already have evidence that the vaccines have been safe for many, many people. If one waits for 100% assurances, there aren't any...for ANY vaccine. Even if inadvertent, passing Covid onto vulnerable people is now a foolish, needless, and selfish act.

Sources please. What I've read doesn't back up what you're saying.

Re: Delta is now the predominant COVID variant in the U.S.

ThinkingOutLoud — Wed, 07 Jul 2021 16:16:41 GMT

Sure would be nice if people would stop spreading fear.

Re: Delta is now the predominant COVID variant in the U.S.

Mindy D — Wed, 07 Jul 2021 16:24:22 GMT

@phoenixbrd wrote:
@Mindy D Our resident poster of glad tidings! Just kidding, of course, I love the facts and the timeliness of your posts....much appreciation.

I'm wondering...aren't these contradictory statements? For those of us who received Pfizer will want to know:

It does appear that vaccines do provide good protection against the delta variant though the protection, based on research coming from Pfizer, appears to show that its vaccine's protection against the delta variant is not as robust as its protection against other strains. Preliminary evidence shows that Pfizer's vaccine appears to be highly effective at protecting against severe disease and death from the delta variant, but more time is needed to determine if this protection holds true as more evidence is garnered from more cases, especially in the U.S. and in infected persons with underlying health conditions

@phoenixbrd @When it comes to vaccines, 63% protection against delta might not be as good as 94% infection against other strains, but it is still considered to be good protection. We have been spoiled by the numbers we've been seeing from the mRNA vaccines. Their level of protection is higher than what has been seen with many other vaccines, such as influenza vaccines, for example. ("recent studies show that flu vaccination reduces the risk of flu illness by between 40% and 60% among the overall population during seasons when most circulating flu viruses are well-matched to the flu vaccine." Quoted from the CDC website).

Pfizer's only been looking at the real world cases of delta virus infection in persons vaccinated with Pfizer's vaccine for a very short time and so far, vaccinated persons in Israel have low numbers of severe infection in the presence of high circulation of the delta variant. Getting the exacting science to make a true determination will require sequencing from patients to ensure which variant they were infected with. This data is still being collected and is very preliminary. Pfizer has not published results but the Israeli Health Ministry has made public statements about this.

Re: Delta is now the predominant COVID variant in the U.S.

phoenixbrd — Wed, 07 Jul 2021 16:29:23 GMT

@skatting44 Yes, I wonder if those "thousands of people from all over the world" have been tested? It's a trick question.

@skatting44 wrote:
next we'll be hearing abt Lambda variant that is prevalent in Chile. Also it has to be an inaccuracy that so far no cases in the US despite thousands of new people from all over the world entering the US on a regular basis .

Re: Delta is now the predominant COVID variant in the U.S.

On It — Wed, 07 Jul 2021 16:35:40 GMT

@ThinkingOutLoud wrote:
Source?

The sources are listed in the original post.

Re: Delta is now the predominant COVID variant in the U.S.

Mindy D — Wed, 07 Jul 2021 16:37:11 GMT

@ThinkingOutLoud wrote:
What is quoted above only talks of cases. Keep in mind there's a big difference between cases and deaths. In point - saw this a few days ago -
New public England study of delta variant shows 44 deaths out of 53,822 (.08%)

@ThinkingOutLoud @Thank you. I didn't post about deaths, because my post is about the increase in delta variant cases. Chances could be that the vaccines will protect against deaths. 🙏 I'd like to see more about morbidity among vaccinated persons versus unvaccinated persons.

What is New public England? Was this study one conducted in England? I'd like to read it.

Re: Delta is now the predominant COVID variant in the U.S.

ThinkingOutLoud — Wed, 07 Jul 2021 16:46:53 GMT

@On It wrote:
@ThinkingOutLoud wrote:
Source?
The sources are listed in the original post.

They weren't when the op first posted which is why I asked.

Re: Delta is now the predominant COVID variant in the U.S.

ThinkingOutLoud — Wed, 07 Jul 2021 16:51:38 GMT

@Mindy D wrote:
@ThinkingOutLoud wrote:
What is quoted above only talks of cases. Keep in mind there's a big difference between cases and deaths. In point - saw this a few days ago -
New public England study of delta variant shows 44 deaths out of 53,822 (.08%)
@ThinkingOutLoud @Thank you. I didn't post about deaths, because my post is about the increase in delta variant cases.

This is my point. With only focusing on cases, the info seems to be more about spreading fear/pushing vaccines. When info is ommitted, that's telling.

Re: Delta is now the predominant COVID variant in the U.S.

Mindy D — Wed, 07 Jul 2021 16:55:22 GMT

@ThinkingOutLoud wrote:
Sure would be nice if people would stop spreading fear.

@ThinkingOutLoud @We have been seeing changes of transmissibility from different variants for a year. I would think that just because we have a more transmissible variant now the fear wouldn't be any greater than when we learned of the S. African variant and the Brazilian variant. We don't have data yet on morbidly from the delta variant in the unvaccinated. We don't have much information yet about the effectiveness of any vaccines against the delta variant except the small amount of news of Pfizer's vaccine effectiveness against infection with the delta variant being effective, though less so than against other variants. We don't have morbidity data yet in the U.S.. We do have data on the prevalence of new cases of the delta variant in the U.S. We are learning that this variant is now dominant in the same way we learned when other strains became dominant here. Any fear people derive can be greatly reduced by carefully reading and evaluating information.
What I glean from the information, for my personal response, is that I will be masking when in public and I'm predicting that I'll need a booster. I'll also need to keep a close watch on continuing news about this and I will not become complacent and think the pandemic is over in the world. We already know that the more cases of the virus that occur worldwide the more chances for the virus to mutate and for new viruses to emerge. Certainly, in this, knowledge is power.

Re: Delta is now the predominant COVID variant in the U.S.

Mindy D — Wed, 07 Jul 2021 16:59:01 GMT

@ThinkingOutLoud wrote:
@On It wrote:
@ThinkingOutLoud wrote:
Source?
The sources are listed in the original post.
They weren't when the op first posted which is why I asked.

@ThinkingOutLoud @Sorry, I always have to go back to retrieve my sources since I can only link if the source is one that has no ads, such as a journal or the CDC.

Re: Delta is now the predominant COVID variant in the U.S.

JamandBread — Wed, 07 Jul 2021 16:59:15 GMT

There is no fear spreading. The facts are clear. The variant now accounts for the majority of those testing positive. The majority of deaths are those who have not been vaccinated. The virus is going to spread in pockets of the country that are not vaccinated. The more unvaccinated, the more chance for other variants to emerge which can eventually take hold in the vaccinated population. Science has told us this. This has been scientifically proven.

Trifling about deaths is offensive to me. As if the .08% aren't people with family and friends, without future plans and hopes and dreams.