Are there any known variants which are currently at low levels but are more transmissible than Delta, or is Delta the most transmissible known variant to date?
After months of data collection, scientists agree: The delta variant is the most contagious version of the coronavirus worldwide. It spreads about two to three times faster than the original version of the virus, and it’s currently dominating the outbreak in the United States, responsible for more than 80% of COVID cases.
I don’t know if it’s more infectious, but the gamma variant is pretty good at breaking through the vaccines.
Thats very unnerving about the Gamma variant infecting people with the Moderna mRNA vaccine. But if Delta is more infectious, does that mean Gamma won’t spread?
Or are we possibly looking at a world with 2 major variants, Delta infecting the unvaccinated while Gamma infects the vaccinated?
As you might have surmised, there are multiple factors that must be considered when assessing risk. The so-called Brazilian variant was actually on the radar before Delta precisely because it, like the South African variant, has the ability to evade antibodies. Even so, what we’ve seen is that the sheer infectiousness of the Delta variant has essentially enabled the Delta variant to outcompete the other variants.
One thing that needs to be remembered is that if the vaccines are preventing significantly symptomatic infection, hospitalization, and death, then they are doing their job. It’s difficult to make a vaccine that is 99% effective at preventing symptomatic infection.
I am somewhat concerned about the variants that are out there now, but the good news is that the vaccines are generally holding up in terms of preventing the worst outcomes. I would still prefer that we all exercise vigilance though.
What worries me more than anything is another one or two mutations. As these current variants burn through the population, there is the possibility that something much, much worse could emerge and completely overwhelm the vaccine protection that we have. In fact, I suspect we’re about one or two mutations away from that nightmare scenario.
It is imperative that people get vaccinated ASAP if we are to avoid this potentially catastrophic scenario.