According to the Georgia Department of Public Health, about 12% of new COVID-19 infections in Georgia are the Delta variant, while the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that number is 51% nationwide.
Dr. Andrew Reisman, a family physician with Longstreet Clinic Family Medicine in Oakwood, says that the largest difference with the Delta variant is its contagiousness.
“It’s much easier and quicker to acquire it,” Dr. Reisman said. “Whereas I’ve had lots of people tell me that they didn’t realize they were sick … and they were the only one that got sick in the house, I expect that that would not be the story quite as often with the Delta variant.”
According to Dr. Reisman, the severity of the illness associated with the Delta variant is about the same as the original strain and other variants. While the Delta variant is more contagious, he said you should not be concerned about a more severe illness should you become infected.
However, Dr. Reisman said the larger concern relates to variants that could form due to the Delta variant’s more contagious nature.
“All kinds of mutations that are somewhat meaningless can happen, but sometimes a mutation that’s beneficial in their survival, infectiousness or reproduction occurs,” Dr. Reisman said. “Just like many other viruses, especially one that travels around the world and infects millions and millions of people, increases your risk of that happening.”
Dr. Reisman said the most important thing the community can do is get vaccinated to prevent the spread of the variant.
In a recent press briefing by the White House COVID-19 Response Team, Dr. Anthony Fauci released data that suggested that the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are about 79% effective against infection from the Delta variant, 88% effective against symptomatic infection and 96% percent effective against hospitalization.
Likewise, indirect data from the AstraZeneca vaccine, which works similarly to the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, shows that the J&J shot is about 92% effective against hospitalization from the Delta variant.
