A new variant has mutated from the Delta variant, and it’s in the U.S.

It has been almost two years since the virus COVID-19 was officially announced as a pandemic by the World Health Organization. Many people have had their fill of  uncertainty, destruction and grief caused by the pandemic, and yet it is still here. While global cases have gone down, we are still far away from the light at the end of the tunnel. Many scientists and experts have agreed that we still have a long way to go before we can return to a somewhat normal life. 

But what is taking so long? Why hasn’t the pandemic ended yet? Well… there are many reasons as to why we aren’t out of the woods yet. Not enough people are getting vaccinated, restrictions are being relaxed too soon, and COVID-19 continues to mutate (to name a few reasons). In recent months, the variant that has been causing worry is the Delta Plus variant.

This new variant mutated from the Delta variant. In case you need a refresher, the Delta variant, which spreads twice as fast as the original COVID-19 virus, and in people who are not vaccinated, can cause severe illness compared to the original virus. First found in India in Dec 2020, the Delta variant spread throughout the world quickly, and today makes up 99% of all COVID-19 cases, according to the Washington Informer. However, people who have been vaccinated are still protected against this variant, more than those who are not vaccinated.

     However, Delta Plus (AY.4.2) is a little different. Experts believe that the Delta Plus variant is even more transmissible than the Delta variant, and can cause more severe disease in the unvaccinated.  It now makes up 11% of cases in the U.K. and cases in the U.S. have been found in California, Florida, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nevada, North Carolina, Rhode Island and Washington state. However, this new variant isn’t probable cause for panic. 

 Experts believe that COVID-19 vaccinations are still effective against the variant, and that vaccinations are the best means of protection against this variant, and COVID-19 as a whole. Even though COVID-19 continues to mutate, there are still many ways for you to protect yourself. 

• Get vaccinated
• Wear a mask indoors or in crowded areas
• Wash your hands before and after eating
• Do not touch your face, mouth, eyes, or nose
• Stay home if you feel sick 

Working through a global requires effort from us all. Doing our part, ensuring that we are being responsible and safe, can make a difference if we all try. Be safe out there folks; as the winter season rolls in, the CDC expects a spike in cases due to viruses spreading better in the cold. Wear a mask, wash your hands, and enjoy the holidays!