CDC: COVID Delta Variant Can Spread As Easily In Vaccinees As In Unvaccinated People | Voice of America

The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says the delta variant of the coronavirus is as contagious as chickenpox, and infections in vaccinated people can be as transmissible as in unvaccinated people.

Internal CDC documents, first obtained by The Washington Post, urged staff to “recognize that the war has changed” in light of the delta variant.

The CDC said the variant requires a new approach to help the public understand the danger, adding that evidence shows the delta variant may carry a higher risk of hospitalization and death.

The agency also pointed out that vaccines are very effective in preventing infections, serious illness and death. The CDC said that while those who are vaccinated are less likely to get sick, they could be just as likely as those who are not vaccinated to pass the disease on to others.

America’s top infectious disease expert Dr Anthony Fauci said in an interview with Reuters on Friday that he hoped regulators would grant full approval for COVID-19 vaccines as early as next month. He said the move could encourage more Americans to get vaccinated, who are currently cleared for emergencies by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

US President Joe Biden announced Thursday that civilian federal government employees must be vaccinated or undergo regular testing and wear masks.

Biden says federal workers must certify COVID-19 vaccination status

President’s comments come as mask mandates fall back into place across the country

A reporter asked Biden as he left the White House on Friday whether Americans should expect more guidelines and restrictions related to the coronavirus. “In all probability,” he said.

Biden also noted that on Thursday nearly a million Americans were vaccinated against COVID-19 and said, “I hope people are starting to realize how essential it is to move” in response to the threat of coronavirus.

The White House said the average number of people receiving their first coronavirus vaccine this week was up 30% from last week.

Also on Friday, Walmart joined a growing number of U.S. companies in issuing employee warrants to have its employees vaccinated, saying the policy would apply to all employees at its headquarters as well as managers who travel to the United States.

And the Broadway League said on Friday that the public will need to show proof of vaccination to watch Broadway shows and will be required to wear masks.

In global developments, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Friday announced lockdown measures for the capital region Manila, which is home to 13 million people. The move aims to curb the spread of the delta variant of the coronavirus. The lockdown will go into effect from August 6 and will last until August 20.

Australia’s third largest city Brisbane said it would start a COVID lockdown on Saturday amid rising cases. Neighboring areas will also be subject to stay-at-home orders.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Friday that 80% of adults must be vaccinated before the country considers reopening its border.

In Japan

Japanese authorities have extended the coronavirus state of emergency to four areas outside Tokyo following spikes in infections in the capital, as the city hosts the Olympics.

Tokyo and Okinawa have already been placed under a state of emergency due to the spread of the coronavirus.

Saitama, Chiba, Kanagawa and Osaka are the new prefectures under the state of emergency. Several other prefectures will be placed under pre-emergency measures.

In the event of a state of emergency, activities are suspended in establishments that serve alcohol or have karaoke. As part of the pre-emergency measures, companies are asked not to serve alcohol.

Japan reported more than 10,000 daily cases of the coronavirus on Thursday, the first time the country’s daily count has exceeded 10,000.

Around the globe

In Israel, health officials on Friday began giving coronavirus booster shots to people over 60 who have been fully vaccinated in a bid to stop a recent spike in cases.

The Italian Institute of Health announced on Friday that the delta variant accounted for almost all new cases of COVID-19 in the country, nearly 95% of cases as of July 20.

German authorities announced on Friday that unvaccinated travelers arriving in the country will be required to show a negative COVID-19 test result.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told a press conference in Geneva on Friday that “hard-earned gains risk being lost” because of the delta variant.

WHO officials have said they fear 47 of Africa’s 54 countries will miss the September target of immunizing 10% of their population, a target set earlier this year by the World Health Assembly, the the world’s highest body responsible for shaping health policies. Africa accounts for less than 1% of the more than 4 billion doses of vaccine administered worldwide.

Globally, only 1.1% of people in low-income countries have received at least one dose of the vaccine.

The Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center on Friday reported more than 197 million COVID infections globally and more than 4.2 million deaths from the disease globally.

Some information for this report came from Reuters and The Associated Press.