Delta variant dominates COVID-19 infections in 4 US states

• Arkansas, Connecticut, Kansas, and Missouri, are experiencing a surge in new COVID-19 cases, more than 80% of which are caused by the Delta variant.
• Three of the four states also have below average vaccination rates.
• The highly infectious Delta variant has caused over 96% of new cases in Missouri.

More than 80% of new COVID-19 infections in Arkansas, Connecticut, Kansas, and Missouri, have been caused by the highly infectious Delta variant, according to data compiled by Scripps Research’s Outbreak.info.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), three of these four states have vaccination rates below 40% — which is below the 47.4% average in the whole nation.

Missouri has the highest percentage of new cases caused by Delta at 96%.

The Delta variant, which was first found in India, is around 60% more infectious than the formerly dominant Alpha variant, which was first found in the UK.

The Delta variant’s mutations also help it partially avoid the body’s immune response, leading to the rise in new COVID-19 cases.

According to Covid Act Now’s tracker, which mostly uses CDC data, the highest number of overall new COVID-19 infections in the US were found in Missouri and Arkansas. They are followed by Nevada, where 78% of new cases are caused by the Delta variant.

Johns Hopkins University data also showed that the three states all have below-average vaccination rates: 32% in Arkansas, 36% in Missouri, and 39% in Nevada.

Based on low vaccination rates, socio-economic vulnerabilities, and limited hospital capacity amid the rise in Delta, Covid Act Now’s tracker showed that 12 states are now at “high” risk from COVID-19.

However, there is no direct link between vaccination rates, Delta prevalence, and the number of new infections.

For instance, Connecticut has a high Delta prevalence but also very low infection rates. Kansas also has a relatively low number of new COVID-19 cases despite a below-average 39% vaccination rate. Louisiana only has a 32% vaccination rate but only a 33% Delta prevalence.

There are other factors to be considered as well. For instance, Missouri had no statewide mask mandate, with local officials setting their own rules.

Counties also showed different situations. In Missouri, Springfield reports 51.2 new daily cases per 1000 while Iron County reports 1.4 new cases per 1000.

Actual figures may vary due to delays in uploading data. The CDC may also have stopped tracking non-severe cases among vaccinated people since May.

Source: Business Insider