3 cases of COVID-19 Delta variant confirmed in Williamson County

The proportion of cases is growing quickly and is estimated to be the dominant strain in the U.S. as early as August.

WILLIAMSON COUNTY, Texas - Williamson County and Cities Health District say it has learned that the first three cases of the Delta (B.1.617.2) variant of COVID-19 have been confirmed in Williamson County. The variant was discovered and confirmed through lab testing in June.

Delta, also known as B.1.617.2, was demonstrated to be around 60% more transmissible than the already highly infectious Alpha variant (also called B.1.1.7) identified in the United Kingdom in late 2020.

"It is not surprising to see the Delta variant in our community given how rapidly it spreads," said WCCHD Lead Epidemiologist Allison Stewart. "The good news is that the mRNA vaccines have been proven to be highly effective against this variant. The concern locally is that we have more than half the county that isn’t vaccinated and who are still highly susceptible to this variant."

The best way to fight this new variant according to Stewart is getting vaccinated. For those who are not vaccinated, Stewart recommends wearing a mask while out in public, especially indoors, and practice social distancing.

"The people who are fully vaccinated really don’t have much to worry about because they are protected against severe disease, hospitalizations, and death especially with a Delta variant it as well," said Stewart.

WCCHD says Delta belongs to a viral lineage first identified in India during a ferocious wave of infections there in April and May. The current scientific evidence is that the variant may be associated with an increased risk of hospitalization but those mRNA vaccines are still highly effective against it.

It is thought to be responsible for only a small proportion of the current COVID-19 cases in Texas and the United States, but the proportion of cases is growing quickly and is estimated to be the dominant strain in the U.S. as early as August.

At this time, Williamson County remains in Yellow Phase and continues to urge all eligible residents to seek vaccination to protect themselves and their community.

___

MORE HEADLINES:

APH partners with community for weekend vaccination pop-up clinics
US COVID-19 deaths: Most who died recently were unvaccinated, data shows
Delta variant: What to know about the spreading coronavirus strain

___
DOWNLOAD: FOX 7 AUSTIN NEWS APP
SUBSCRIBE: FOX 7 Austin Daily Newsletter | FOX 7 Austin on YouTube
FOLLOW: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter