Signs of 'Delta Variant' Spread in the US... New COVID-19 Cases Up 10%

Rochelle Walensky, Director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
[Photo by AP]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Suhwan] In the United States, where vaccination efforts are being accelerated, the number of new COVID-19 cases has recently increased. Analysts attribute this to the highly contagious Indian variant, the 'Delta variant.'

Rochelle Walensky, Director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), stated at a White House briefing on the 1st (local time) that the seven-day average of daily new COVID-19 infections has increased by 10% recently.

The daily average number of infections from June 16 to 22 was 11,428, but from June 23 to 29, this figure rose by 10% to 12,609.

Director Walensky said that although the seven-day average daily confirmed cases have decreased by 95% since January 10 of this year, when the winter surge peaked, the Delta variant still remains a threat.

She also warned that more confirmed cases, hospitalizations, and deaths could occur in communities with low vaccination rates.

Walensky said, "The Delta variant is expected to become the second dominant variant in the United States," adding, "It is anticipated that in the coming weeks, the Delta variant will surpass the Alpha variant (originating from the UK)."

She also noted, "Currently, about 1,000 counties in the U.S. have vaccination rates below 30%," and "These communities, mainly in the Southeast and Midwest, are our most vulnerable areas."

She continued, "In some of these areas, the rate of disease spread is already increasing," and stated, "As the Delta variant spreads across the country, unless more people get vaccinated now, transmission is expected to increase in these regions."

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