Pouch: "Delta Variant Will Become Dominant Strain in Areas with Low Vaccination Rates"

Delta Variant Spread Expected to Accelerate
Emphasis on the Need for Vaccination

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy New York=Correspondent Baek Jong-min] Anthony Fauci, director of the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), warned that the fast-spreading India-originated COVID-19 virus variant, the 'Delta variant,' will become the dominant strain in the United States. However, it is expected that the spread of the Delta variant will be limited in areas where vaccination has been completed.

On the 23rd (local time), in an interview with CBS, Fauci was asked, "Will the Delta variant become the dominant strain in a few weeks?" He replied, "It will become the dominant strain in areas with low vaccination rates."

He drew a line by saying, "In areas with high vaccination rates, we will not see that happen." He explained this as the reason why people need to get vaccinated.

Last week, Rochelle Walensky, director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), said that the Delta variant is expected to become the dominant variant in a few months.

Considering this, Fauci's prediction is interpreted as reflecting the U.S. authorities' recognition that the spread of the Delta variant will accelerate further.

In an interview with NBC, Fauci stated that the time it takes for the Delta variant to double is about two weeks, and that this variant currently accounts for about 20% of new infections in the United States.

Fauci added, "Therefore, considering the doubling time, I expect it to become quite dominant in a few weeks to about a month."

According to CNN, the Delta variant has been detected in Washington DC and 49 states across the United States.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.