Everything You Need to Know About COVID-19 Delta Variant

With time, COVID-19 has mutated into a highly contagious variant known as delta variant which is giving health officials and experts a cause for concern as cases continue to rise in the USA. This article highlights everything you need to know about the COVID-19 delta variant.

While vaccination drive is taking place on a large scale, people should continue wearing face masks and following COVID-19 protocols. As there is going to be a huge demand for face masks and coverings, face masks suppliers in the USA should continue producing them on a large scale to meet the growing demand.

What Is the COVID-19 Delta Variant and Why Is It a Cause of Concern?

The delta variant, also known as B.1.617.2, was first detected in December 2020 in India. It was associated with the unstoppable rise in COVID-19 cases and increased the burden on the nation’s healthcare system. Since then, the delta variant has been identified in more than 110 countries and has become the dominant strain in the USA. It holds the large majority of all infections in the USA covering all 50 states.

The delta variant has been classified as a ‘variant of concern’ by both the CDC and WHO. This means that the variant is more transmissible and may lead to serious illness, however, more research is required. It is considered to be highly contagious and has emerged as the most dominant strain in the USA after first being detected in the country in March of 2021.

Early research reveals that the variant is about 40%-60% more infectious than the alpha variant, which is the previously dominant strain in the USA and UK, the one which was already 50% more contagious than the initial coronavirus strain first detected in Wuhan, China in 2019.

As per the reports by Yale Medicine, public health officials estimate that the average person infected with the delta variant infects 3 to 4 people as compared to the original strain which infected only 2 people. So, they advise people to wear face masks in public settings and face masks suppliers in the USA to produce high-quality face masks at affordable prices.

While the delta variant is still under research and there is not sufficient evidence that ascertains that it causes fatal diseases or is more harmful than other strains, some research has associated it with increased risk of patient hospitalization. According to a study by Public Health England (PHE), people infected with the COVID-19 delta variant were twice more likely to be hospitalized than the ones infected with the alpha variant. Also, based on the study in Scotland, the rate of hospitalization for persons infected with the delta variant was about 85 percent higher than those infected with the alpha variant.

What Are Its Major Symptoms?

As the delta variant is still under the research phase, it’s still unclear that how its symptoms are different from other strains. It’s because there is limited data available. However, in the UK, where the delta variant is a major dominant strain, common symptoms like headaches, runny nose, sore throat, and fever have recently been reported. Cough and loss of smell and taste have become less common.

These conclusions could be due to the fact that the younger age group, who are implausible to be vaccinated, now hold a larger portion of COVID cases and are likely to have more mild symptoms.

Who is More Prone to Risk of Infection?

Individuals who have not got themselves vaccinated against COVID-19 are more likely to be infected with the delta variant. Some of the areas in the USA like Missouri and Arkansas, where there are low vaccination rates, were the first ones to witness a rise in cases.

Public Health England, meanwhile, identified that the risk of hospitalization with delta variant is higher among unvaccinated people.

What Does This Mean for Vaccinated People?

According to studies, all three vaccines (Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson), authorized for the purpose of emergency use, have been found to be effective against the delta variant for people who have had both doses of vaccination.

For example, the PHE noticed that both doses of the Pfizer vaccine were 96% effective against hospitalization with the delta variant and 88% effective against the symptomatic disease. Hence, receiving the full dosage of the vaccine ensures more effectiveness. Based on the same study, one dose proved to be only 33% effective against the symptomatic disease.

However, no vaccine is fully effective. A part of those vaccinated against COVID-19 has been infected even after vaccination, known as ‘breakthrough cases’. Research is still being done to understand the dominance and importance of breakthrough cases with the COVID-19 delta variant. However, till now serious disease found in vaccinated persons is quite rare. Pfizer is looking forward to seeking emergency use authorization for a booster dose as it will be needed to protect against the deadly delta variant or other COVID-19 mutations.

Still, it is advised that people should wear masks and maintain COVD-19 protocols even after getting vaccinated. Healthcare workers should continue using PPE when giving treatment to COVID-positive patients. Hence, there will be high demand for wholesale PPE suppliers during these times.

How Can COVID-19 Delta Variant Impact Kids?

Experts are still doing research on the impacts of the COVID-19 delta variant on children. It is still not known if the variant causes severe disease in kids. As children below 12 years of age are not allowed to take the COVID-19 vaccine, there may be increasing numbers of cases in children, specifically in areas with high community transmission and low vaccination rates.

The best way to protect children is to get all eligible persons around them to get vaccinated. Children above 2 years should continue to wear face masks in both indoor and outdoor settings.

How to Get Tested for the COVID-19 Delta Variant?

If you’re having any of the above-mentioned symptoms or have been exposed to individuals with confirmed or suspected COVID-19, it is suggested to get tested. At this time, the only option to detect if you’re experiencing a specific strain is through genetic testing, since there isn’t any specific test for the COVID-19 delta variant.

Meanwhile, wholesale PPE suppliers in the USA need to produce PPE including face masks on a large scale to meet the demand spikes in the country.

How to Protect Yourself?

If you haven’t got vaccinated, you must get vaccinated. COVID-19 vaccination still provides effective protection against all known strains and mutations of COVID-19, including the delta variant.

All, including the vaccinated people, should continue to practice social distancing in public places and crowds, stay at home if unwell, wear face masks, and wash their hands. The CDC also advises everyone, including the vaccinated ones, to wear face masks in public settings in areas with high transmission rates.

Hence, there will be going to continued demand for face masks suppliers in the USA unless everyone gets fully vaccinated and there’s no trace of COVID-19 variants.