SAGINAW, MI — Public health officials say they received notification of the first confirmed case of the COVID-19 Delta variant, a particularly virulent strain of the virus now considered the nation’s most dominant.
“Today, we know the Delta variant is here,” said Christina Harrington, health officer for the Saginaw County Health Department. “We’ve suspected it has been here a while now.”
News of the variant’s arrival comes at the same time as the number of total cases continues to increase after a relatively mild stretch of virus transmission earlier this summer.
Harrington and her colleagues celebrated no new COVID-19 cases or deaths in the county as recently as July 7. By Monday and Tuesday, July 27-28, there were 40 new cases reported, she said.
“While this is far below any of the surge levels we experienced last fall or earlier this year, we need to be careful and not let our guard down,” Harrington said. “With school starting in some districts in less than a month, we would really like our schools to have a normal back-to-school experience.”
That could prove challenging if the region’s vaccination numbers don’t improve, public health officials say.
“The vast majority of people getting sick or being hospitalized are the unvaccinated,” Harrington said. “It’s time to get yours, if you haven’t already.”
In total, 43.2% of Saginaw County’s population was fully vaccinated for COVID-19, reports the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That compares to 49% in the state and nation.
Other states are further behind in vaccinations, and are experiencing surges in new cases. For instance, 34% of Alabama’s total population is vaccinated. New cases there have increased by 265% in the last 14 days.
By comparison, new cases have increased by 142% in Michigan over the same period.
Public health officials say the Delta variant of COVID-19 is driving surges in many states, leading the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention earlier this week to change its guidance for vaccinated individuals.
The Delta variant was first detected in the U.S. in March, after initial emergence in India in December 2020.
“These variants seem to spread more easily and quickly than other variants, which may lead to more cases of COVID-19,” states a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report.
“An increase in the number of cases will put more strain on healthcare resources, lead to more hospitalizations, and potentially more deaths. So far, studies suggest that the current authorized vaccines work on the circulating variants.”
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