Do we really need to wear masks again? West Bend doc explains why the answer is yes

BEND WEST – The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is asking everyone to mask relief, even if you are fully immunized.

This is because of the more contagious Delta variant.

This strain now accounts for 80% of all COVID-19 cases in the United States, according to the CDC. Dr Chad Tamez of West Bend Medical shares another disturbing discovery from scientists showing that even those who are fully vaccinated and exposed to the Delta variant, could pass it on to other people.

“I think the biggest difference is that the vaccine seems to have stopped spreading this one [the original COVID-19 variant]. The vaccine didn’t stop us from spreading this one [the Delta variant]”said Tamez.

The doctor shares the reason the Delta variant appears to be much more contagious, adding: “and this is relatively new data, the viral load is up to 1,000 times higher than the original strain.”

While keeping an eye on the Delta variant, medics are also monitoring a new strain, known as the Lambda variant.

First detected in South America, there are less than 1,000 cases of the Lambda variant in the United States, according to a database that tracks COVID cases.

That is compared to nearly 35 million COVID-19 infections in the United States since the start of the pandemic, according to the CDC.

“I feel like I haven’t had a chance to worry about Lambda yet because I’m still concerned about these,” Dr Tamez said. Lambda is currently listed as a ‘variant of interest’ and not the virus of concern. It is not the dominant strain at the moment. I don’t think this is where we are focusing our efforts.

Dr Tamez tells his patients that the vaccine will protect you against serious illness or hospitalization of either variant.

In Washington County, where Dr. Tamez practices medicine, 44% of the entire county is fully vaccinated.

TMJ4.COM

That’s compared to the state average of 49.4% on Monday, according to the Wisconsin DHS.

Dr Tamez says wearing a mask is another way to slow the spread. He acknowledges that this is a difficult question, saying, “They’re not perfect, we don’t wear hazmat suits. I think they have reduced some of the spread.

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