Delta Variant Exists in Mohave County COVID-19 Cases

Also: Remember Vaccinations Curb Severity,

Not Cure-All for Contracting COVID-19

MOHAVE COUNTY, AZ (July 1, 2021 — The Delta variant of COVID-19 is spreading across the country, in Arizona, and it is present in some COVID-19 positive cases found in Mohave County. County Health Director Denise Burley says, “research indicates the Delta variant is significantly more transmissible than other variants, and the fact that we are experiencing an increase in cases, and the Delta variant is present in our county is concerning.”  ADHS monitors all variants circulating in the state and in specific counties and keeps county health departments informed of conditions.

The Delta variant was initially identified in India in December 2020 and first detected in the United States in March 2021.  According to the CDC and WHO, the variant didn’t raise alarms until India faced a major COVID-19 surge this spring when it became a variant of concern. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) maintains a variant tracking site for residents to follow https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#variant-proportions.

Delta does indeed appear to be more transmissible. However, it’s not clear if Delta causes more severe disease or leads to more deaths. Moderna has announced results from a small lab study that showed only a “modest reduction” in neutralizing antibodies against Delta with its mRNA vaccine, though the variant may reduce the vaccine’s efficacy.

As is expected with any vaccine, fully vaccinated individuals may still become infected with the disease the vaccine is designed to protect against. Across the nation, including Mohave County, there have been some breakthrough cases of COVID in fully vaccinated individuals. Generally, if a person becomes infected after being fully vaccinated, the vaccine may prevent serious illness, hospitalization, or death from the disease. Burley adds, “Current research suggests that authorized vaccines are working on the variants, and to prevent future surges in cases, we strongly recommend that our county residents get vaccinated as soon as possible.”

Vaccinations are readily available throughout the county, and appointments can often be made the same day, with some providers offering the vaccination on a walk-in basis. Here is a list of vaccine providers: https://www.mohavecounty.us/ContentPage.aspx?id=127&cid=1444&page=2&rid=2230

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