Delta Variant Now Dominant COVID-19 Strain In The U.S., CDC Estimates
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The highly transmissible variant has worried public health officials who warn it could lead to a new surge in cases, particularly among the unvaccinated.
The delta variant of the coronavirus is likely the most common strain of COVID-19 in the United States, according to estimates released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC estimated that 51.7% of new cases for the two-week period ending July 3 were linked to the delta strain while 28.7% of new cases were linked to the alpha strain, which has been dominant in the U.S. throughout the course of the pandemic. The tallies are projections using case modeling and official breakdowns will be released in full later this month. Some areas of the country, however, have seen COVID-19 cases linked to the delta variant skyrocket, particularly in states with lower vaccination rates. More than 80% of new cases in the region encompassing Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska and Iowa were predicted to be linked to the strain, the CDC said.More Related News