The Delta Variant. Should Massachusetts residents be concerned?

Written by: Gowri Chandran

Cover Design by: Neharika Tadakamalla

In India, in December of 2020, the Delta variant was identified for the first time. Rapidly infecting, it became the dominant strain in India and Great Britain. As the variant is more transmissible than the common cold, multiple sources describe Delta as a variant of concern. Infected people carry the virus for longer, and it spreads between individuals faster than other strains, including the Alpha variant. However, this is no surprise, for variants mutate intending to become more efficient. And yes, WHO is naming the variants with Greek letters instead of B.1.671.2, the numerical term for Delta.

In the United States, the Delta Variant caused more than 80% of COVID-19 cases. In more relatable terms, this means that four in every five infected people have the Delta strain. The symptoms of COVID-19 and Delta are similar, although fortunately, vaccines make a difference. Remember, vaccines do not provide 100% immunity. Rare cases where a vaccinated individual is infected is known as a breakthrough case. The majority of breakthrough cases are often asymptomatic, which means there are little to no symptoms. The Delta variant appears to affect the unvaccinated more severely. In turn, this means that the number of vaccinated versus unvaccinated people in your city has an impact on your likelihood of becoming infected. In general, here are some measures from WHO that reduce the possibility of coming in contact with the virus or being infected:

• Washing your hands regularly

• Wearing a mask that covers your nose and mouth

• Have clean hands when putting on or taking off your mask

• Avoid crowded spaces

• Keep your distance from others

• If you are indoors, make sure there is good ventilation

As a Massachusetts resident, should you be concerned about the Delta Variant? Like mentioned before, vaccines make a difference. In the US, 57% have received at least one dose. Fortunately, vaccinations are going better in Massachusetts because 70% of the eligible population is fully vaccinated, and 69% of the entire Massachusetts population has received at least one dose. In addition, Massachusetts is second only to Vermont for the percentage of fully vaccinated people.

There have been COVID outbreaks in the state during the last couple of weeks. The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MA DPH) announced the identification of the Delta Variant on July 23 for an outbreak in Provincetown. This cluster included vaccinated people, though experts learned how the new strain impacts vaccinated individuals. The total amount of breakthrough cases in Massachusetts is only 0.1% (or 5,166 cases in 4.3 million vaccinated people!) According to the official MA website, Massachusetts is fortunate to have the in-state laboratory capacity to identify variants and not rely on out-of-state laboratories.

The number of vaccinated individuals in Massachusetts is why the Delta variant isn’t as severe here compared to other states or the country. This doesn’t mean that residents should stop wearing masks. It’s all the more reason to continue taking precautions. To keep seeing the hopeful statistics about the variant, get vaccinated and spread the word to your loved ones as well.