COVID Delta variant as transmissible as chickenpox, says CDC

Internal CDC report, quoted by NYT, says Delta variant likely to break through protections afforded by the vaccines.

The Delta variant of the coronavirus is as contagious as chickenpox and could cause severe illness, according to an internal document at the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), The New York Times reported. The variant was also more likely to break through protections afforded by the vaccines, the report said, adding that CDC’s decision to reverse course on masking guidelines for fully vaccinated citizens on Tuesday is based on the document. The agency had previously said the vaccinated did not need to wear masks indoors.