In a preprint posted 12 July¹, the researchers report that virus was first detectable in people with the Delta variant four days after exposure,compared with an average of six days among people with the original strain, suggesting that Delta replicates much faster.

How much more contagious is the Delta variant of COVID-19?

• The Delta variant is more contagious: The Delta variant is highly contagious, more than 2x as contagious as previous variants.

How long is the incubation period for COVID-19?

- The incubation period for COVID-19. Given that the incubation period can be up to 14 days, CDC recommends conducting screening testing at least weekly.

Does the COVID-19 Delta variant cause more serious illness?

• Some data suggest the Delta variant might cause more severe illness than previous strains in unvaccinated persons. In two different studies from Canada and Scotland, patients infected with the Delta variant were more likely to be hospitalized than patients infected with Alpha or the original virus strains.

What are some symptoms of the COVID-19 Delta variant in vaccinated individuals?

Typically, vaccinated people are either asymptomatic or have very mild symptoms if they contract the Delta variant. Their symptoms are more like those of a common cold, such as cough, fever or headache, with the addition of significant loss of smell.

What are some of the serious side effects of the COVID-19 vaccine?

Rare serious adverse events have been reported after COVID-19 vaccination, including Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) and thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS) after Janssen COVID-19 vaccination and myocarditis after mRNA (Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna) COVID-19 vaccination.

Are you at risk of experiencing an autoimmune disease flare-up from COVID-19 vaccine?

There is a risk that flare-ups may occur. That being said, it has been observed that people living with autoimmune and inflammatory conditions are at higher risk of experiencing severe symptoms from a COVID-19 infection.

Is the COVID-19 Epsilon variant more infectious?

The Epsilon variant is gaining a higher profile as cases of COVID-19 spike among the unvaccinated, driven in part by the widely spread Delta variant.

In the lab, the Epsilon version proved to be more infectious than previous variants, and researchers have discovered three changes in its spike proteins.

What does variant of high consequences mean for COVID-19?

A variant of high consequence has clear evidence that prevention measures or medical countermeasures (MCMs) have significantly reduced effectiveness relative to previously circulating variants.

When did COVID-19 Delta variant become the leading variant in Arkansas?

Delta did not become the leading variant in Arkansas until the first week in July 2021.

Can an infected person spread COVID-19 before showing symptoms?

An infected person can spread COVID-19 starting 2 days before the person has any symptoms or tests positive. People who have COVID-19 don't always have obvious symptoms. A person is still considered a close contact even if they were wearing a mask while they were around someone with COVID-19.

How long do you need to stay home after coming into close contact with someone who has COVID-19?

Anyone who has had close contact with someone with COVID-19 should stay home for 14 days after their last exposure to that person.

How long should I wait to get tested for COVID-19 after being exposed if I am fully vaccinated?

- If you have been fully vaccinated and around someone who has COVID-19 (close contact), you do not need to stay away from others (quarantine), or be restricted from work unless you develop COVID-like symptoms. We recommend that you get tested 3-5 days after your last exposure to someone with COVID-19.

Do the new COVID-19 variants spread more easily?

These variants seem to spread more easily and quickly than the dominant strain, and they also may cause more severe illness, but more research is needed to make a determination.

How can you prevent the spread of the Delta variant of COVID-19?

Given what we know about the Delta variant, vaccine effectiveness, and current vaccine coverage, layered prevention strategies, such as wearing masks, are needed to reduce the transmission of this variant

What is the dominant COVID-19 variant in Colorado?

The CDC says Colorado is among the states with the highest proportion of the highly contagious delta variant.

What is the new MU COVID-19 variant?

Sept. 2, 2021 -- The World Health Organization is tracking a new COVID-19 variant called Mu, which could be able to evade the immunity provided by vaccines and prior infections.

The variant, also known as B. 1.621, was first identified in Colombia in January.

What is the difference between a variant and a lineage for COVID-19?

Viruses like SARS-CoV-2 continuously evolve as mistakes (genetic mutations) occur during replication of the genome. A lineage is a genetically closely related group of virus variants derived from a common ancestor. A variant has one or more mutations that differentiate it from other variants of the SARS-CoV-2 viruses.

What variant of COVID-19 is evolved in New York City?

B.1.526 emerged in November 2020 as a SARS-CoV-2 variant of interest in New York City (NYC). The presence of the E484K mutation is concerning because it has been shown to attenuate antibody neutralization in vitro.

Which Brazilian variant of COVID-19 is more transmissible?

A recent study conducted by investigators from Brazil, the United Kingdom and the University of Copenhagen has found that the COVID-19 variant P. 1, which originated in Brazil, is more transmissible than the original virus and is able to evade immunity. Results from the study were published in the journal Science.

What is the predominant strain of COVID-19 in the U.S.?

The highly transmissible B.1.617.2 (Delta) variant of SARS-CoV-2 has become the predominant circulating U.S. strain.

Can I still have sex during the coronavirus pandemic?

If both of you are healthy and feeling well, are practicing social distancing and have had no known exposure to anyone with COVID-19, touching, hugging, kissing, and sex are more likely to be safe.

Should you get the Covid vaccine if you have an autoimmune disease?

The American College of Rheumatology COVID-19 Vaccine Clinical Guidance recommends that people with autoimmune and inflammatory rheumatic disease (which includes lupus) get the vaccine unless they have an allergy to an ingredient in the vaccine.

Can COVID-19 cause an autoimmune disease?

Widespread and long-term inflammation during severe COVID-19 may cause the immune system to produce antibodies to pieces of the virus it wouldn't normally recognize. Some of those pieces might resemble human proteins enough to trigger the production of autoantibodies.

What are some of the common side effects of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine booster shots?

Fatigue and pain at the injection site were the most commonly reported side effects, and overall, most side effects were mild to moderate. However, as with the 2-shot primary series, serious side effects are rare, but may occur.