CASES OVERALL ARE ON THE RE.IS >> THE DELTA VARNTIA SEEMS TO BE THE MOST COMMONLY ISOLATED VIRUS FROM ANY OF THE SAMPLES RIGHT NOW. >> AND CASES ARE ONHE T RISE ACROSS THE UNITED STATES ESPECIALLY IN AREAS WITH A LARGE PEOPLE. MARYLAND IS FARING SLIGHTLY BETTER. E STHTATE HEALTH DEPARTMENT REPORTS 90 CASESF O THE DELTA STRAIN AS OF JULY 12TH. BUT THE DOCTOR CALLST I THE MOST THREATENING VARIANT OF THE VARIANT YET. >> WE STILL DON'T KNOW WHY IT SEEMS TO BE CAUSING MORE DISSEEA BECAUSE THERE ARE SEVERAL LINES OF EVIDENCE THAT ARE SUGGESTING THAT IT'S CAUSING MORE DEAVERE DISEASE IN YOUNGEROP PULATIONS. >> THE DOCTOR SAYS THE VACCISNE ARE VERY EFFECVETI AT PREVENTING SERIOUS ILLNESS BUT THE KEY IS YOU HAVE TO BE FULLY VACCINATED. TWO TO THREE WEEKS PT YASOUR SECOND SHOT. >> MANY STUDIES HAVE SHOWN THAT IF YOU'RE IN BETWEEN THESE TWO VACCINE BOOSTS, YOU ACTUALLY HAVE A HIGHER CHANCE OF GETTING INFECTED WITH DELTA. AND THAT'S PROBABLY BECAUSE THE IMMUNE RESPONSE ISN'T STRGON ENOUGH TO FEND IT O.FF >> THERE ARE SOME OTHER VARIANTS, I HAVE ROLL GISTS ARE TRACKING. IOTA AND GAMEA EMERGED MONTHS AGO. BOTH ARE CONCERNING BECAUSE THEY HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO BREAK THROUGH THE PROTECTION OF THE VACCINES. GAMEA IS MORE PREVALENT. >> BECAUSE OF THOSE MUTATIONS BUT IT HASN'T JUMPED TO THE FRONT LIKE THE DELTA VARIANT HAS. >> AS OF NOW, HE SAYS THE BEST WAY TO PROTECT YOURSELF AND OTHERS IS TOET G VACCINATED. >> VACCINES EAR WORKING, WE'D BE IF WE CLDOU JUST INCREASE THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE GOTTENHE T COVID-19 VACCINE. >> DOCTORS SAY THIS VIRUS HAS A CHANCEO T MUE STATE AGAIN EVERY TIME ITPREADS S TO A NEW PERSON. REPORTING
Doctors track two other COVID-19 variants as delta continues to spread
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Updated: 6:24 AM EDT Jul 21, 2021
The delta variant of the COVID-19 virus is spreading like wildfire in certain areas of the country. Maryland is faring better, but there are also two other strains doctors are watching closely.|| COVID-19 updates | Maryland's latest numbers | Get tested | Vaccine Info ||Maryland has recorded less than 100 cases of the delta variant as of last week, but the number of COVID-19 cases has gone up over the last two weeks."The delta variant seems to be the most commonly isolated virus from many of the samples right now," said Dr. Andy Pekosz, of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.And cases are on the rise across the United States, especially in areas with a large population of unvaccinated people.However, in Maryland, the state health department reports 90 cases of the delta strain as of July 12.But Pekosz calls it the most threatening strain of the coronavirus to emerge yet."We still don't have a clear answer as to why it’s so increased in terms of transmission and why it seems to be causing more severe disease because there's now several lines of evidence that are suggesting that it’s causing more severe disease in younger populations," he said.Pekosz said the vaccines are still very effective at preventing serious disease from the delta variant, but the key is you have to be fully vaccinated – two to three weeks past your second shot."Many studies have shown if you're in between those two vaccine boosts, you actually have a higher chance of getting infected with delta and that's probably because the immune response isn't strong enough to fend it off," the doctor said.And there are some other variants virologists are tracking – iota and gamma emerged months ago. Both are concerning because they have the potential to break through the protection from the vaccines. Of the two, gamma is more prevalent."We've always looked at it as a potential variant of concern because of those mutations that can avoid vaccine-induced immunity, but it hasn't really jumped to the front like the delta variant has," Pekosz said.As of now, he said the best way to protect yourself and others is to get vaccinated."Vaccines are working. We'd be in a much better and safer place if we can just increase the number of people who have gotten the COVID-19 vaccine," Pekosz said.Doctors said this virus has the potential to mutate every time it spreads to a new person.
BALTIMORE — The delta variant of the COVID-19 virus is spreading like wildfire in certain areas of the country. Maryland is faring better, but there are also two other strains doctors are watching closely.
|| COVID-19 updates | Maryland's latest numbers | Get tested | Vaccine Info ||
Maryland has recorded less than 100 cases of the delta variant as of last week, but the number of COVID-19 cases has gone up over the last two weeks.
"The delta variant seems to be the most commonly isolated virus from many of the samples right now," said Dr. Andy Pekosz, of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
And cases are on the rise across the United States, especially in areas with a large population of unvaccinated people.
However, in Maryland, the state health department reports 90 cases of the delta strain as of July 12.
But Pekosz calls it the most threatening strain of the coronavirus to emerge yet.
"We still don't have a clear answer as to why it’s so increased in terms of transmission and why it seems to be causing more severe disease because there's now several lines of evidence that are suggesting that it’s causing more severe disease in younger populations," he said.
Pekosz said the vaccines are still very effective at preventing serious disease from the delta variant, but the key is you have to be fully vaccinated – two to three weeks past your second shot.
"Many studies have shown if you're in between those two vaccine boosts, you actually have a higher chance of getting infected with delta and that's probably because the immune response isn't strong enough to fend it off," the doctor said.
And there are some other variants virologists are tracking – iota and gamma emerged months ago. Both are concerning because they have the potential to break through the protection from the vaccines. Of the two, gamma is more prevalent.
"We've always looked at it as a potential variant of concern because of those mutations that can avoid vaccine-induced immunity, but it hasn't really jumped to the front like the delta variant has," Pekosz said.
As of now, he said the best way to protect yourself and others is to get vaccinated.
"Vaccines are working. We'd be in a much better and safer place if we can just increase the number of people who have gotten the COVID-19 vaccine," Pekosz said.
Doctors said this virus has the potential to mutate every time it spreads to a new person.
