CLARINDA - Page County Public Health has confirmed cases of the Delta variant according to information released Thursday. The health department did not release information about the diagnosed people.
The Delta variant is currently the most common COVID-19 virus strain circulating around in the U.S., the region, and in Iowa. The Delta variant was originally found in India in December 2020 and was first seen in the U.S. in March. The Delta variant spreads more easily than other variants and that is why COVID-19 cases are increasing in the U.S. and in Iowa.
The CDC indicates that the available vaccines are effective against the Delta variant. For those who get an mRNA vaccine, the second dose of vaccine provides a higher level of protection so it is important that people get both doses.
People who have not been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 are most at risk of getting, being hospitalized for, and dying from COVID-19. The best way to stop the spread of the of all COVID-19 virus strains, including the Delta variant, is for unvaccinated people to get vaccinated.
If the COVID-19 virus strains continue to spread from person-to-person, new variants will continue to occur. COVID-19 vaccines are effective against the variants that are currently circulating, so all eligible people are urged to get vaccinated as soon as possible. Getting vaccinated protects against the current virus strains and decreases the chances of a vaccine-resistant variant developing in the future.