Dr. Rochelle Walensky discusses during a briefing. 

CDC Director: Delta variant more aggressive than previous strains

Briefing

CDC Director: Delta variant more transmissible 


CDC Director: Delta variant more aggressive than previous strains


The delta variant is spreading with incredible efficiency and now represents more than 83% of the virus circulating in the United States compared to the virus we have circulating initially in the United States. At the start of the pandemic, the delta variant is more aggressive and much more transmissible than previously circulating strains. It is one of the most infectious respiratory viruses we know of and that I have seen in my 20 year career. Please know we together are not out of the woods yet and you will want to make thoughtful decisions to protect your health and the health of your family and your community. We are yet at another pivotal moments in this pandemic with cases rising again and some hospitals reaching their capacity in some areas, We need to come together as one nation unified in our resolve to protect the health of ourselves, our Children, our community, our country and our future with the tools we have available. The greatest risk right now is to those who are unvaccinated. And we have consistently and repeatedly said if you are unvaccinated, you need to be wearing a mask to protect yourself and others around you. And we need more people to get vaccinated to stop this pandemic. So overall, the CBC recommendations haven't changed fully vaccinated people are protected from severe illness. So if you're an area that has a high pace rate and low rates of vaccination where built, the cases are rising, you should certainly be wearing a mask. If you are unvaccinated. If you are vaccinated, you get exceptional protection from the vaccines, but you have the opportunity to make the personal choice to add extra layers of protection if you so choose.