The delta between vaccinated and unvaccinated
Scientists update what we know about the delta variant, while anti-mask and anti-vaccine activists harden their opposition to public health.
Much news this week, so I’m sending an “extra” edition to my subscribers. And I’m back to wearing a mask in public indoor spaces. I am happy to see many other people doing the same.
The CDC released data Friday from a Massachusetts study showing similar, high viral loads in both vaccinated and unvaccinated people infected with the delta variant. While vaccinated people were much less likely to get severely ill, the findings strongly suggest that the delta variant can be transmitted by both unvaccinated and vaccinated people.
Separately, the Washington Post reported on an internal CDC presentation in which epidemiologists urged the agency to use stronger messages about “non-pharmaceutical interventions” like masks and social distancing because the delta variant spreads so much easier than earlier strains — comparable to chickenpox.
The bottom line:
Get vaccinated. The overwhelming majority of severe COVID-19 cases, including hospitalizations and deaths, are among those who are not protected by vaccination.
Wear a mask and keep your distance. Because the delta variant can be transmitted via vaccinated and unvaccinated people, vaccination status is no longer an indicator of whether it’s safe to be in someone else’s space.
The good news is that the Pfizer, Moderna and J&J vaccines continue to prove highly effective at preventing severe illness and death.
“High viral loads suggest an increased risk of transmission and raised concern that, unlike with other variants, vaccinated people infected with Delta can transmit the virus,” said CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky, adding that the CDC reversed course on masking recommendations to prevent vaccinated people from unknowingly spreading the delta variant to others.
We’re No. 1 again. Not in a good way. With almost 67,000 new confirmed COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours, the USA has returned to the level we had in April, when new cases were steadily declining. The number of new cases reported this week is at almost the exact same level as one year ago, when post-July 4 surges were underway in many places… as they are once again.
Former Surgeon General Dr. Jerome Adams told CNN that the current trajectory plus the new understanding of how easily the delta variant spreads makes new lockdowns likely.
Drug cocktail protects against COVID-19 death: The FDA expanded the Emergency Use Authorization for a monoclonal antibody cocktail made by Regeneron. In addition to treating infected individuals at high risk, the treatment now is authorized for “post exposure” preventive treatment in high risk individuals, such as nursing home residents or those with impaired immune systems.
Axios has an interesting report on the division over masks that is pulling America apart and accelerating the spread of COVID-19.
Read comments on social media in response to any post about the updated CDC guidelines for another illustration of the hardened positions many people have taken.
A central Florida hospital system is again deferring procedures because hospitals are filling ICU and other beds with COVID-19 patients.
Florida’s governor plans to sign an “executive order” to allow parents to defy public health guidelines for masks in schools.
While the Olympic “bubble” seems to be holding, the rest of Japan is in the throes of a new COVID-19 wave.
Today’s daily data update from Johns Hopkins shows how dramatically the new cases have surged in the United States in just the past week. (These daily 1-minute videos are available at https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/covid-19-daily-video.)
The countries with the largest number of new cases are:
USA 66,996
Brazil 45,093
Indonesia 42,551
India 39,897
Iran 28,935
Spain 24,718
Russia 22,848
France 20,888
Turkey 16,958
Malaysia 16,245
Source: OurWorldInData.org
Question: How does the latest news about the delta variant change your plans or behavior?