60% More Contagious Delta Variant Now in Arizona

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60% More Contagious Delta Variant Now in Arizona

The Delta B.1.617.2 coronavirus variant, which is highly transmissible and possibly more dangerous than current predominant variants, now makes up more than 40% of all samples, according to Helix, a population genomics company that collects and analyzes test samples from several U.S. states.

The Delta Variant in Arizona

According to the Arizona COVID-19 Sequencing Dashboard, reported cases of the Delta variant increased from 47 in May to 122 cases on July 5. The first appearance of the Delta variant was confirmed on the Navajo Nation on June 28.

The Delta variant originally found in India is estimated to be 60% more contagious than U.K. alpha variant, which recently caused 70% of COVID-19 cases in Arizona. Arizona Public Health Association Executive Director Will Humble said experts “expect that the Delta variant will be dominant by mid-to-late summer in Arizona.”

Research indicates the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines provide 88% protection against the Delta variant, but only with both doses. A single dose is only about 33% effective against the delta variant.

Myths and Facts about COVID-19 Vaccines

The B.1.617 variant contains the 452R mutation, which has been associated with increased transmissibility, infectivity, and potentially impacts effectiveness of some clinical treatments.

The Unvaccinated

In Australia, where lockdowns have been enforced in three large cities due to sequencing detection of the Delta variant, security cameras documented a brief encounter of two people passing each other in a shopping mall; one of them was unknowingly infected. The shoppers were facing each other at one point and breathed each other’s air for only seconds, which led to the second person getting infected. While such a brief encounter typically wouldn’t lead to transmission, the case signaled how important it is that people get vaccinated before the Delta variant spreads further.

Vaccinations and Masks

For the unvaccinated, the Delta variant presents a highly transmissible threat and public health experts are stressing the importance of getting vaccinated.  Highly populated areas, like Los Angeles County, are issuing mask recommendations once again as a precaution.

Arizona’s Vaccination Rate

Arizona’s rate of vaccination remains below the national average, with about 39% or approximately 3 million Arizonans have been fully vaccinated. 3,554,332 million people in the state have received at least one dose of the vaccine, meaning about 48.8% of Arizonans are at least partially vaccinated.

COVID-19 vaccination appointments across the state can be found on the ADHS vaccine patient portal.