Early in 2020, panic spread across the globe as COVID made its way across several countries. With the creation of the vaccine, it seemed like things were looking up. That is until the COVID delta variant came to be.

It has a lot of the same symptoms that the original strain of the virus has, but it’s a lot bigger of a problem. To keep yourself and your family safe, it’s important that you read up on all the information that you can about this new branch of COVID.

We can help you with your research. Check out this guide to learn more about what the delta variant is, where it came from, and what you can do to fight against it.

What Is the COVID Delta Variant?

There’s a new strain of COVID in town, and its name is delta variant. It spreads a lot faster than the original virus.

It’s gotten around so fast, in fact, that there’s a complete resurgence of COVID.

The Delta Plus Variant

There is a subvariant of delta known as delta plus. What makes it so scary is the mutation that it carries.

Once it sets in, it can better attack the lungs than delta and the original strain of COVID. It’s possible for it to even skirt around vaccinations.

As you’ll read later on, this doesn’t mean that you and your family should skip out on getting your vaccines.

Where Did It Come From?

The more a virus is allowed to jump from person to person, the more likely it is to mutate. This is where the delta variant came from.

According to Prabir Purohit, if the virus continues to spread, delta won’t be the last variant we see. There’s a lot more to come.

How Contagious Is It?

The main characteristic of delta is that it’s much more contagious than the regular COVID virus. Since it can spread so fast, it can infect way more people at a given time.

We’ll give you a little example. Let’s say there’s a group of people in a room. Every single one is unvaccinated and none of them are wearing a mask.

If someone has the original branch of the virus, they may infect two to three people. Delta will hop around to 4 or more.

It doesn’t seem like a huge number difference, but it does add up. As it continues to spread at a rapid rate, it makes changes. Over time this will only make it more contagious.

Do the Vaccines Help?

As we said before, there are subvariants of delta that can skirt around vaccinations. Many people are under the misconception that this means that the COVID vaccine is worthless. This can’t be further from the truth.

If the vaccine is available to you, go ahead and get it ASAP unless you have a medical condition that would make it unsafe for you to do so. There’s a small chance that you still may come down with COVID, (We call this a breakthrough infection) but your symptoms won’t be near as bad.

Having some kind of protection against the virus is better than having no protection at all.

Unvaccinated People Are Most at Risk

Out of everyone, unvaccinated people are the most at risk for delta variant. They have no shield against the virus, therefore, they can come down with it much quicker and easier.

Those who are unvaccinated experience the worst of the symptoms. Many face hospitalization and even death. Your risk for these extreme symptoms increases if you’re over the age of 65 or have other medical conditions such as diabetes and obesity.

Are Children Vulnerable to It?

With school going in full swing, many parents are afraid that their children will come down with the delta variant. We’ll tell you that the virus doesn’t attack them specifically.

As long as your child’s school does what they’re supposed to do to keep the virus under control, they should be safe. Before you send them off to class, talk to your kid about the virus and the importance of wearing a mask and washing their hands.

Delta Variant Symptoms Are the Same as the Earlier COVID Strain

Delta variant comes with pretty much the same symptoms that the earlier strain does. You’ll experience headaches, fever, cough, fatigue, muscle aches, shortness of breath, congestion, and a sore throat. All of these things are also associated with the flu.

What makes COVID stand out is the loss of smell and taste. Some people are asymptomatic.

This means that they experience no symptoms, but they still carry the virus. Even though they don’t seem sick, they can still spread the disease to other people if they don’t wear a mask in public spaces.

Vaccinated People Can Spread the Virus

It doesn’t happen often, but you can still spread the virus around if you’re vaccinated. That’s why it’s important to wear a mask while you’re in crowded areas, no matter if you’ve received the vaccine or not. This is especially true if you’re showing symptoms.

You could be carrying around the virus the same as someone who isn’t vaccinated. The only difference is that you won’t stay infected as long.

It Can Have Long-Lasting Effects

A lot of people who’ve had COVID end up experiencing lasting effects later. Most of the time, this comes in the form of damage to the lungs, brain, and heart. Some people develop permanent autoimmune disorders.

This is the case for even those who had a mild case of the disease. They experience something known as long-haul COVID.

The brain fog, fatigue, and memory problems that come with the virus can stick with a person weeks after they are disease-free. These symptoms aren’t permanent, but they do make it difficult for one to go about their daily life for over a month.

Can It Lead to More Deaths?

It’s thought that the delta variant is more deadly than the original strain because of how many it’s put in the hospital.

Couple the seriousness of the symptoms with the speed at which it can infect people, and you’ve got a recipe for disaster.

Protecting Against the Virus

There are plenty of ways to protect yourself and your loved ones from catching the delta variant. Getting vaccinated is the number one line of defense, but it’s not all you can do.

Get Vaccinated

If you can get the vaccination, the best thing you can do is make an appointment to receive your shot.

Again, there’s still a chance that you could come down with the virus, but the symptoms won’t be near as bad. Providing your immune system with some defense is better than leaving it vulnerable.

It at least cuts down the rate of infection in high populated areas. The fewer people it spreads to, the better. By keeping it contained, we stop it from mutating as rapidly.

You’ll also protect those who can’t get the vaccination due to age or other circumstances.

Wear Your Mask

You can carry the virus around even if you’ve been vaccinated. This means that wearing a mask is still necessary to keep everyone safe.

The primary way the virus is spread is through the air when someone sneezes, coughs, or talks. By wearing a mask, you contain your germs.

It can also prevent you from breathing in bacteria to a point. It’s not infallible.

We recommend putting on a multilayer mask before you head into any crowded space.

Stay Away From Large Crowds

If possible, you should try to stay out of large crowds. Limiting the number of people you come into contact with will limit the possibility of exposure to the virus.

Outdoor events are a little safer than indoor ones, but it’s still a risk. You can go to the grocery store, but when you do, be sure to stay 6 feet away from those around you. Don’t touch your face until you’ve washed your hands or wear a pair of disposable gloves.

Everything You Need to Know About the Delta Variant

In the face of the new COVID delta variant strain, the best thing you can do is stay informed and vaccinate yourself. Failing to do so will only make you more vulnerable to infection.

As long as you do what you’re supposed to do, you cut down your risk of ever experiencing symptoms. Wear a mask, keep your hands washed, and avoid large crowds to keep yourself and your family safe.

Are you looking for more news on COVID and the delta variant? Visit the Health section of our blog for all the latest updates.