Delta Variant Accounts for Over Half of New Covid-19 Cases in the U.S.

According to the CDC, the Delta variant is now making up more than half of all new cases of Coronavirus infections in the United States. Delta accounts for 51.7% of new infections and the B.1.1.7 or Alpha variant accounts for 28.7% of cases. Dr. Anthony Fauci said “if ever there was a reason to get vaccinated, this is it.” According to Fauci, the variant poses a ‘significant threat’ to unvaccinated people and the variant is not only more transmissible but it can also cause more severe disease. According to health experts, people who live in areas where the vaccine rate is low are especially at risk.

According to Johns Hopkins University data, over the past week, Missouri has experienced 108 new cases per 100,000 people daily. A surge team is being deployed to provide public health support in southwest Missouri where the spread of the virus is filling up hospitals. The surge is so high in Springfield Missouri that the CoxHealth hospital system began transferring patients to other facilities to provide better staffing. Arkansas had the highest rate with 15.7 new cases per 100,000 people each day.