By Muriel Tillinghast
As you can see, most of the Northeast and upper Midwest, as well as much of the West, have only “moderate” or “low” transmission.” But it looks to me like except for these areas, the rest of the country is off the chain and we are heading into big-time Covid-Delta trouble. The medical community is bracing for a peak in the fall which will backslide all of the efforts to date in keeping the positivity rate under control. 30% of the country remains uninoculated.
COVID-Delta is taking more than 50,000 people a day in England. In the United States, which has experienced more COVID-19 cases and deaths than any other country, the Delta variant represents about 83% of new infections. So far, unvaccinated people represent nearly 97% of severe cases.Haven’t we been here before?
Doctors and researchers don’t know everything about the Covid, but their information fields are growing and new strains of the virus are evolving.
For now, they know this much:
(a) Wear the mask in closed areas and among strangers. Double-masking is ok.
(b) Wash your hands and face frequently, running water and soap is the best.
Keep your unwashed hands away from your face.
Keep hand sanitizers with you at all times.
(c) Avoid closed-in locations with strangers. Keep your social distance (6 feet spacing is best!)
(d) Get inoculated and encourage others who have not.
This is the best prevention.
No, it’s not 100%, but it’s the best we have.
Ninety-seven percent of the people with Covid-Delta have been unvaccinated!
In parts of the country with relatively low vaccination rates, e.g., Arkansas, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, and Nevada, hospitalizations have increased rapidly. You can see the map for yourself! The Delta variant is more highly transferable than the earlier Alpha one with which we struggled last year.
The unvaccinated are playing Russian roulette with their own lives and yours.
Sources:
The New York Times, The Morning, July 28, 2021, David Leonhardt
How the Delta Variant Upends Assumptions About the Coronavirus | Top News | US News – USNews.com
