COVID-19 Update: July 2, 2021

Delta Variant - what you need to know.

I have been getting some questions about the Delta variant so I thought I would do a quick post on that with some updates. Here are the essential things to know:

1. The Delta variant is the one originally detected in India. We are no longer calling them by nation's names (thus "delta") because some people do not understand how it all works and blame the country where the variant is first detected which leads to hate crimes, hostility, and other such uninformed behaviors.

2. The variant is more easily transmitted and leads to higher hospitalization rates.

3. The variant has been detected in every state in America.

4. Pfizer, Moderna, and J&J vaccines have proven effective against the Delta variant. Currently, we are seeing hospitalizations and deaths among unvaccinated.

5. Numbers are fluid as you know, but over the past 7 days the US saw about an 11% increase in cases - nothing I would call a surge. Overall - week over week were down. Deaths were also down - but the ratio of cases to deaths was slightly up...slightly... from 1.79 to 1.8. So 1.8% of people, in the US, who are getting COVID die. This is up a bit from a month ago when we were 1.78 - but again, that increase is very small. Remember, we watch for 2-week trends. So if the numbers go up two weeks in a row (which they have not) it would attract our attention - but a one-week increase is not so concerning if it is small.

6. The Delta variant is expected to increase cases among the unvaccinated. We expect to see some isolated surges in areas with lots of unvaccinated people but so far we are holding steady.

7. As fewer and fewer people wear masks - and more and more of us travel, it is expected that we would see some increase in numbers. As the Delta variant takes hold and becomes the predominant variant in the US (which it has not yet done but we fully anticipate it will) then cases will naturally increase. When that happens, there are valid concerns of a possible third wave. Right now this is all just speculation, projections, and predictions based on solid science. Certainly, it is something to be aware of but the sky is not falling. The outbreak isn't quite over so we do still need to use some common sense.

FINAL THOUGHTS: It's funny how life goes. I have family visiting, we haven't seen each other since the outbreak began so it has been a sweet reunion. We were driving somewhere and I was leading the convoy thinking about how they were my tribe, my people, those who had known me my entire life, my circle if you will. I was having a bit of a moment - when I glanced up and saw they exited the interstate despite the fact that I had not. The irony of that moment struck me and made me chuckle. My circle, my people, had detoured but I had not. There was nothing I could do about this but keep going and hope for the best. Sometimes this happens. Sometimes you look up and realize things have changed quite quickly, or people are not who you thought. Perhaps they are not where you thought they were. Sometimes paths cross and sometimes they diverge. We are all in each other's lives for a season, some seasons are long - some are short. The best we can do is try to learn from each other, love each other, and let each other go when it is time.

I hope you have a wonderful July 4th weekend and a special thank you to all who have served this wonderful country and the loved ones who have supported them while they did. I thank you for my freedom.