Delta Variant is Dominant!

The Delta variant of the COVID-19 virus has become the dominant strain in the US and it is coming right at the unvaccinated populations. It is also easily transmitted and is deadly. Some authorities have likened this rapid spread to the easy transmission of chickenpox. (Before the vaccine for chickenpox was available, children easily contracted the virus from classrooms or events such as birthday parties.) Now, because of vaccine requirements for most elementary school enrollments, chickenpox and other childhood diseases are rare.

Over 99 percent of the COVID-19 Delta variant cases and all the recent deaths have occurred in unvaccinated patients. While there have been some outbreaks among vaccinated people, none of those were severe cases. Vaccinated people can transmit this variant even as they have few symptoms. Patients with this Delta variety can become ill rapidly with upper respiratory disease-type symptoms but without the COVID-related losses of taste and/or smell. There is no state which is free of this variant; in just a few short months it has gone from fewer than 10% of the US caseload to more than 85% of the cases being diagnosed today. According to Dr. Fauci, this outbreak is opportunistic as it is coming for the unvaccinated and, in fact, he called it a disease of the unvaccinated. He indicated that we are seeing another significant increase and that it will become worse soon. With approximately one-third of the country or 100 million people not yet vaccinated we are again seeing a surge similar to that seen last winter. He noted that we need to get more Americans vaccinated. The vaccination rate in Britain is now approximately 80% and, although they are still having COVID outbreaks, the numbers are significantly below those of last year.

Although not a hard divide, we are seeing a type of red state/blue state division on vaccine acceptance. Since much of the country is still celebrating the reopening of events, beaches, resorts, and businesses, these fresh cases are dismaying. The White House this week made vaccination or frequent testing a requirement for the military and government employees and reinstated a mask requirement for the buildings, as did the House. Other states and cities are following suit. Red-state governors in Arkansas and Alabama have spoken out in favor of vaccinations even as Missouri held back while their state cases expanded. Florida, however, is an exception as Governor DeSantis refuses to allow local jurisdictions to impose mask mandates for schools or businesses. Meanwhile, his state of Florida counted more than 20,000 new cases, on a single day this week. Two weeks ago, the recent cases for the entire country tallied approximately 31,000. One-fifth of the US total cases counted this week come from Florida. Florida has a lot of travel from South America. Scientists have noted another new variant in Peru and it is under the watch of the World Health Organization. They call this the Lambda variant; so far they have not identified it in the US, that I know of.

The New York Times today had an extensive article trying to determine who the unvaccinated folks are and why they persist in opposing this health measure. There appeared to be no single universal reason as the explanations included concerns about side effects of the vaccine and its potential costs, worry about its safety or effectiveness, distrust of the government, inadequate information, to simple dislikes of all vaccines, and belief in personal immunity since they had had COVID already. CDC and other branches of government are sponsoring multiple areas of outreach to communities through physicians, clergy, and other influencers at the local level and public service ads from media personalities. Cash inducements and other prizes are being offered in some places to increase vaccinations numbers. Employers and entertainment venues are asking for proof of vaccinations as the country continues to open up; this also may be a positive move and be a motivator for some. Some Republicans are speaking up as Congressman Steve Scalise, second in ranking for the House Republicans recently very publicly got vaccinated and Senator Mitch McConnell, who had polio as a child, is promoting the vaccine.

Viruses mutate; this is a known fact. Unless we can get enough people immunized in this country, we will continue to be susceptible to other variants and significant surges. Until the world can mobilize and vaccinate other populous areas such as those seen in Africa, India, Pakistan, South America, and South Asia, we will not be free of this menace. Many say that the actual death toll in India may never be known as thousands of bodies were burned or discarded in rivers without official death certificates. The United States has donated millions of vaccines to a pool with other nations, but the need is for billions of doses and logistically may require years to fully implement across less than friendly territories for health workers. (This is assuming that Europe, Russia, and China will cover their own needs effectively. Neither Russia nor China has been forthcoming about their case statistics and fatalities.)

So, it seems, that we celebrated too soon! Just two weeks ago, I reported that cases were dropping and fatalities were down. Fresh cases then for the US were about 31,000; for MD they were only 166. The numbers below show how statistics have changed in such a short time.

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COVID stats NY Times – 8/1/21

Total US cases:35,039,644. Total New Cases: 79,763. Total Deaths: 612,982. Total New Deaths: 312.

MD stats: (7/30/21) Total Cases: 467,961. New cases: 526. Total Deaths: 9,818. New Deaths: 0 (there is usually a lag in reports of deaths from new cases.)

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Obviously, other things are happening in the world aside from COVID. The Olympics in Japan is one of those events. Despite COVID, the Games have gone on although with strict protocols and few in attendance to cheer the athletes. There is still debate, even as the Games continue, as to whether they should have been held at this time since Japan is in a Covid surge period. We have already seen some spectacular American swimming, especially from Bethesda’s Katie Ledecky and Florida’s Caeleb Dressel with their Gold medals. Kudos to all who have competed.

I guess I need to say a few words about Simone Biles and her stepping down from the competition at the Olympic Games. I totally support what she has done. When she is hurtling herself through the air, walking on tiny beams, and swinging across uneven bars or over vaults; she has to have full body and mind synchronization. If her concentration is broken or she gets distracted, she could be seriously injured. In the past, a Soviet gymnast became permanently paralyzed as a quadriplegic at the age of 20 when attempting a move that is now banned; she competed when her leg was not recovered from a fracture and she fell and broke her neck. She died at age 46. Other American gymnasts have died or been seriously injured in practice or at the games in previous years; these stories are not myths - the athletes must have the option to step back if they feel they will be unsafe. Some of the male commentators who criticized her withdrawal could never accomplish half of what Simone has already done at the age of 24, so they should, in my opinion, just say nothing. Simone has given viewers years of spectacular performances and I hope she can do so safely in the future. She was a Gold medalist and World Champion before these games and I hope she can be such again, should she wish.

Meanwhile, back on the Legislative front, it appears possible that the Biden infrastructure Bill will actually get a vote on the Senate floor as it has advanced with bi-partisan support. Hopefully, the Senators will have time to read it as it is about 2000 pages long so far. However, the House also has to agree and the Budget Bill has to also get to reconciliation. Senator Schumer is holding the Senate in town until this legislation is done; meanwhile, the House is already on recess. But, as they say – it ain’t over ‘til the fat lady sings, so I will listen for the Aria!

So much news, so little time it seems to get to everything!

“Til next week – Peace!