North Dakota sees massive increase in cases of COVID-19 variants

FARGO, ND (Valley News Live) – Over the past week, the number of Delta variant cases in North Dakota has jumped 1,900%, and with a vaccination rate of just under 40%, Health officials fear a further rise in infections, hospitalizations or deaths. may hit the state very soon.

Molly Howell, the North Dakota Department of Health’s immunization program manager, said the Delta variant of COVID-19 is potentially 60 to 80 percent more infectious than previous strains.

North Dakota has the 11th lowest vaccination rate in the United States, with just 39.7% of the population vaccinated.

“I think with our low vaccination rate, this is exactly what we can expect over the next 1 or 2 months.” Sanford Health’s Dr Avish Nagpal said, adding that he feared it was too late to warn.

“Once hospitalizations start to escalate, I’m afraid people will really realize the gravity of the situation. Dr Nagpal said.

The vaccination rate for people 65 and older in North Dakota is 75%, and Dr Richard Vetter of Essentia Health said it would not be those most at risk who will be hospitalized at the autumn.

“Because the elderly are protected, the cases that you see and the deaths that you see will be younger, healthier groups just because they are not vaccinated… and this is going to be heartbreaking. Said Doctor Vetter.

Howell said more than 40% of hospitalizations related to COVID-19 are in people between the ages of 18 and 49.

The CDC reported the number of people who died in June from COVID-19, 99% of whom were not vaccinated.

With the efficacy figures proven by vaccines, Dr Vetter hopes those figures will convince people to reconsider vaccination.

“If you are still unsure about the vaccine … time is running out.” Dr Nagpal said.

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