While the aggressive new Delta variant of coronavirus is spreading rapidly across the U.S., it is 鈥渆ntirely avoidable and entirely preventable if you get vaccinated,鈥� Dr. Anthony Fauci told 小萝莉影视 on Wednesday.
The Delta variant now accounts for about one in four COVID-19 infections in the United States.
Fauci, the nation鈥檚 leading infectious diseases expert and director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said that while the Delta variant is more contagious, 鈥渇ortunately for us 鈥� the vaccines 鈥� particularly the mRNA vaccines such as Pfizer and Moderna 鈥� do quite well against the Delta.鈥�
The problem is that people who still have not gotten a jab 鈥渁re going to be at considerable more risk, and that鈥檚 the reason why we鈥檙e pushing so hard to get people who are not vaccinated to get vaccinated.鈥�
About half of U.S. adults have now been fully inoculated against COVID-19, but vaccination rates have slowed significantly, leading to wide disparities among counties, cities and states across the country.
Fauci that he鈥檚 worried there could soon be 鈥渢wo Americas鈥� because of the rapid spread of the Delta variant, which could trigger a spike in cases in unvaccinated areas.
In response to these concerns, public health authorities in Los Angeles recently reversed their guidelines and are now urging both vaccinated and unvaccinated people to go back to wearing masks indoors, even though the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention lifted nearly all mask requirements for vaccinated people in May.
Fauci, speaking to 小萝莉影视, skirted the question of whether it will be necessary for everyone to wear masks indoors again.
鈥淭he CDC is the one that makes that determination, and the CDC feels that we should stick by their original recommendation,鈥� he said, adding that the agency could change its recommendations depending on how circumstances evolve.
In the meantime, Fauci said, people should not be too worried about breakthrough infections that occur in those who鈥檝e already been vaccinated.
鈥淲hen you see breakthrough infections 鈥� those are rare. You hear about them because they鈥檙e exceptions,鈥� he said, noting that vaccinated people who do get infected usually have mild cases or are asymptomatic.
- Sign up for 小萝莉影视 alerts
- Latest coronavirus test results in DC, Maryland and Virginia
- Coronavirus vaccine FAQ: What you need to know
- Latest vaccination numbers in DC, Maryland and Virginia
Looking for more information? D.C., Maryland and Virginia are each releasing more data every day. Visit their official sites here: | |
