The highly transmissible Delta variant of the coronavirus has spread like wildfire across the US. This raises further concern for areas that have low vaccination rates, and renews federal scrutiny of federal mask guidance.The first to be identified in India was the delta variant. Some estimates suggest that it now accounts for more than 20% of all cases in the US. This variant is quickly overtaking Alpha, the US's previous dominant variant. Alpha was first discovered in the UK in May and took the US by storm in just a few months. Scientists believe that the alpha variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus is 50 percent more contagious that the original SARS-CoV-2 virus which exploded in Wuhan, China.Delta is 50-60% more contagious than Alpha. It may also be twice as contagious than the original virus.Although COVID-19 vaccines remain effective against the delta variant, experts are concerned about the potential danger it poses for areas with low vaccination rates. Some states with low vaccination rates or high transmission rates are already seeing cases of delta takeoff.For instance, Missouri and Nevada have the highest rates of new cases per hour (15 and 13.8 per 100,000 respectively) and low vaccination rates with only 40% of their population fully vaccinated. The prevalence of delta is highest in both states, at around 70% according to current data limitations.Anthony Fauci, a top infectious disease expert, spoke out Tuesday to CNN. He stated that "when you have such low levels of vaccination superimposed on a variant with a high efficiency of spreading, what you will see is that these individual types of immune blips are going to be seen among undervaccinated areasbe it states, cities, or counties. It almost seems like there will be two Americas.AdvertisementDr. Fauci had previously described delta as "the greatest threat to the US's attempt to eliminate COVID-19."Guidance riftThe rapid spread of delta isn't just threatening the unvaccinated. Experts point out that vaccines are not 100% effective in preventing disease and death. Even though there is a slight chance of infection, fully vaccinated individuals could still spread the highly contagious variant.Experts are unsure what precautions fully vaccinated persons should take. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention argues that there is very little risk of spreading disease to and from unvaccinated individuals. The agency maintains that people who have been fully vaccinated can still walk in public places. Experts at the World Health Organization are also more cautious.Bruce Aylward is a senior advisor to the director-general of the World Health Organization. He stated that "We still live within a world that's only partially vaccinated." So, we are saying that once you have been fully vaccinated you should continue to play safe as you might be a part of a transmission network.Aylward and other WHO experts reiterated the long-held position that everyone, even those who are fully vaccinated,should do all they can to prevent transmission. This is especially important as the delta variant spreads.Maria Van Kerkhove (who is WHO's technical lead for COVID-19), stated that the delta variant of the virus was dangerous. It is more transmissible that the alpha variant which was highly transmissible in Europe and any country it entered. The delta variant is even more transmittable... We are now seeing incidence trajectories that are almost vertically in many countries around the globe. Van Kerkhove advised people to wear masks regularly, to stay in ventilated areas, to practice good hand hygiene, respiratory etiquette and to keep their distance from crowds. She said, "Please do all you can to ensure your safety."AdvertisementMaximum protectionMaringela Simo is the WHO's Assistant Director General of Access to Medicines and Health Products. She added that "Vaccine alone will not stop community transmission and that we must ensure that people follow [of] the public health measures Dr. Maria Van Kerkhove was talking about today."The CDC's stance on masks and distancing for fully vaccinated individuals has been reevaluated. With little warning, the agency stated that people who have been fully vaccinated can stop distancing and remove their masks in almost all indoor and outdoor settings. Healthcare settings and mass transit are exceptions.Experts quickly criticized the announcement's timing and manner, arguing that the agency should have given more notice to state and local officials and offered more nuanced recommendations about mask use in different settings such as retail shops. Experts at the time suggested that the CDC should have provided thresholds. They should have recommended cutoffs when local vaccination levels are high enough or transmission rates are low enough to allow for the reduction of health care measures.The New York Times notes that Canada's Saskatchewan has such thresholds. Phased reopening is linked to vaccination rates. Angela Rasmussen, virologist, said that this makes more sense than simply saying "If you're fully vaccinated. Go ahead and take off the mask."Although the CDC has not made any progress on its guidance, officials from other countries and US officials have started reintroducing masking and other measures. Israel, which is one of the most highly-vaccinated countries, has reintroduced the indoor mask requirement this week. Los Angeles County Department of Public Health also urged everyone to wear masks indoors, regardless of their vaccination status, on Monday.The department stated in a statement that the spread of the delta variant will not be fully understood until everyone focuses on maximum protection and minimal interruption to routine, as all businesses can operate without restrictions like physical distancing or capacity limits.
