RITU JHA
The Delta variant of the coronavirus, which is being viewed at with concern by scientists across the world, was detected in 48.8 percent of the specimens sequenced in the month of June in California, said the state’s Department of Public health and recommended wearing masks.
Los Angeles County has already made masks mandatory. And seeing the rise other counties too have recommended masks though not all yet. Last week San Francisco, Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Sonoma, and the city of Berkeley announced wearing masks is necessary when indoor.
A spokesperson for California Department of Public Health through an email told indica News that the Delta variant proportion has been increasing, consistent with patterns seen in other places.
“The increase in the delta variant suggests that this strain is more easily transmitted between people than other strains circulating in California,” the spokesperson, who did not give his name, said.
“Nevertheless, there is evidence that vaccines available in the US are effective against the delta variant. This is a reminder of the importance of vaccination to control the spread of Covid-19,” the spokesperson added that different strains have been dominant in California at different times.
“In early 2021, the Epsilon variant rose most quickly and was then displaced by the Alpha variant. Now, the Alpha variant proportion is dropping as the Delta proportion rises,” the spokesperson said.
At least one California-based expert was of the opinion that the third wave of the Covid-19 pandemic had begun in the United States.
“It looks to me that we have already entered the beginning of the third wave of COVID-19,” Prasun Mishra founding president and CEO of the American Association for Precision Medicine, told indica News.
“Globally, the Delta variant is now the dominant strain of SARS-CoV-2 and it has been spreading in over 111 countries. In the US alone, the Delta variant has become the dominant variant and is now spreading in all 50 US states,” Mishra added.
The percentage varies from state to state. In some parts of the US, the Delta variant accounts for over 70 percent of cases.
“Yes, with what happened in Europe and Asia recently, I am very much concerned,” Mishra said.
“As the Delta variant is highly infectious and deadly, the third wave of Covid-19 could be the worst yet,” he added. “Children below 12 are most vulnerable as there are no Covid vaccines available for them. My request would be to keep your children safe as the third wave of Covid-19 unfolds.”
Mishra underlined: “One thing that the pandemic has taught us is that hand hygiene and wearing masks in public places is the best way to prevent the spread of the virus. So let us all continue wearing masks even though they are not mandated by governments as yet.”
