A highly contagious variant of the novel coronavirus that was initially identified in India now accounts for about 58% of all COVID-19 cases in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In late May, the delta variant was estimated to account for approximately 3% of new cases in the U.S, according to CDC data. Last week marked the fourth consecutive week that the number of newly confirmed COVID-19 cases has increased globally. The WHO declared delta a "variant of concern" in May, and the CDC upgraded its classification of the strain in June from "variant of interest" to a "variant of concern." However, current evidence suggests that the full dosage of a COVID-19 vaccine is highly effective in preventing hospitalizations and serious illness.
