Ohio Launches Variants Dashboard to Track COVID-19 Cases; data shows Delta decreases in state – WHIO TV 7 and WHIO Radio

The Ohio Department of Health has launched a COVID-19 variant dashboard that shows the prevalence of the different variants in Ohio cases.

The most recent collection date for the two-week period ending 9/11 showed that about 74% of the cases tested were the Delta variant and the remaining 26% were not classified as a variant of concern or of interest. The previous UK variant, or Alpha, accounts for less than one percent of Ohio cases in the most recent data.

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According to the ODH, it is common for viruses to constantly change their genetic code through mutation.

“There is evidence that the variants of concern are more contagious, cause more serious disease and reduce the effectiveness of treatments or vaccines,” ODH said. “Scientists use genomic sequencing, which examines the genetic code of the virus, to identify the genetic code of a virus and determine which variants are present in Ohio.”

The new dashboard displays only those variations that the CDC has identified as either of concern or of interesting variation.

Recent data shows a 16% drop in the prevalence of the Delta variant in the state. For the two-week period ending August 28, nearly 91% of sequenced cases were the Delta variant, according to ODH. At its peak, Delta accounted for more than 93% of cases collected in the two-week period ending August 14.

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The Delta variant, which originated in India last October, was labeled a variant of concern by the World Health Organization in May.

Currently, WHO is monitoring two variants of interest originating from South American countries, Mu and Lambda. An interesting variant is a lower rung than a worrying variant.

The ODH said the sequencing that determines whether a COVID-19 case is a variant can only be done on a portion of COVID-19 testing across the state.

“To be sequenced, there must be enough sample left from a positive COVID-19 PCR test, and the sample must contain a sufficiently high viral load,” the ODH said.

Variant testing results can differ by three to four weeks from the date the sample was collected in the original COVID-19 test.

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