Delta variant throws curve and U.S. taking a big hit

Just as the light at the end of the tunnel appeared brighter and brighter, a new problem has appeared in the fight against COVID -19.

The delta variant is a whole new mystery waiting to be solved, but here’s what we know so far.

As vaccination rates went up, and new daily COVID-19 cases went down, the world started to see everyday life shifting back into place. Restaurants, stores, gyms and more were opened to full capacity, and mask mandates were lifted. The end to COVID-19 had seemed upon us.

I hope we enjoyed the time with no mandates because it looks to all be coming back. The delta variant is making its way through countries across the world, and America is taking one of the biggest hits.

This new strand of the virus is unlike the COVID-19 we saw before. As vaccinations continue to be administered, and about half of Americans have been fully vaccinated, new daily COVID-19 numbers should be continuing to go down.

Yet, the delta variant is affecting vaccinated and unvaccinated populations and is highly transmissible, spreading just as fast as the chicken pox. Hospitalizations, so far, have been low among vaccinated individuals, but the same cannot be said for the unvaccinated.

As the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other public health experts try to figure out new guidelines, states have already suggested masking back up and trying to social distance again. Hannah Crupi

West Sand Lake