Thread by @DrEricDing

📍MILESTONE—The #DeltaVariant has just become the new reigning variant—now 51.7% dominant in US, up from 30% just 2 weeks ago. #DeltaVariant is the world’s fastest #COVID19 variant to date, >4x higher hospitalization risk, & more partial vaccine evasive.🧵
covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tra…

2) the #DeltaVariant (dark orange) is particularly surging in the Midwest, parts of the South, and in southwest.

3) The #DeltaVariant is particularly 1 dose vaccine evasive. Only 18-30% with one dose, much lower than before. Two doses better much much weaker. Scotland found 79% two dose Pfizer efficacy for #DeltaVariant infection, while Israel found 64-70%.

https://twitter.com/drericding/status/1409277821713793027

4) Israel’s ministry of health reported a 64% efficacy of 2 dose Pfizer in June when #DeltaVariant dominant, compared to 94% just in May recently. That’s a big drop. Another Israel study found 70% against delta, but same ballpark. Hospitalization efficacy now 93% instead of 98%

https://twitter.com/drericding/status/1411973605609574401

5) Dr Fauci also warned recently about 1 dose inadequacy: “The problem you get into … is that a single dose only provides about ~30% effectiveness [against #DeltaVariant]—so that is really an issue you gotta be careful”

6) If you want to see what #DeltaVariant can do once it hits ~99-100% dominant, England is a notable rise in hospitalizations. England is even more fully vaccinated than the US as a whole. Yet still…

https://twitter.com/drericding/status/1412089591931285512

7) Yet, so many people are misinformed or in the dark about the dangers of #DeltaVariant - wake up people, and wake up CDC!!! We need masks and mitigation on top of vaccinations.

https://twitter.com/drericding/status/1411666430756638726

8) And indeed. @WHO confirms the #DeltaVariant is the most transmissible variable found to date worldwide by leaps and bounds faster contagiousness.

https://twitter.com/drericding/status/1405633531695489027

9) but while WHO recognized #DeltaVariant as a high risk VARIANT OF CONCERN in early May, it took CDC another month until it finally recognized Delta as a VOC. We lost precious time. And now delta is dominant - all because CDC acted too slow!!

https://twitter.com/drericding/status/1404847230205505550

10) Been trying to warn about rising #DeltaVariant for over a month … but feel on deaf ears in terms of actual CDC movement and urgent action. All except LA County public health.

https://twitter.com/drericding/status/1402062059890786311

11) here is what the CDC refuses to do, but @WHO advocated — to keep masks on even if vaccinated. Because we know vaccinated can still carry the virus and spread it.

https://twitter.com/drericding/status/1408762971485003776

12) areas with low vaccination are a “time bomb waiting to happen”.

#DeltaVariant rise will not end well for low vaccinations areas, whether in parts of US, Australia, or other under-vaccinated countries—unless we mask & ventilate.
#COVID19

13) And the #DeltaVariant is sooo contagious that merely 5-10 seconds of passive breathing is enough to infect someone now according to Australian health officials. That has been confirmed many times recently. Let’s take it seriously. Please.

https://twitter.com/DrEricDing/status/1406779894785351688

14) Summer overnight camp is bad with #DeltaVariant around: crowded conditions, stuffy cabins, large groups outside household, long exposure times (sleeping). Here is a huge #DeltaVariant outbreak in houston. Delta is a menace we need to wake up to face. houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-t…

15) don’t let politicians who don’t understand exponential increase deceive you. Even if cases low and rising slowly at first, it is still exponential. Not changing direction or strategy to mitigate will inevitably lead to crisis.

https://twitter.com/drericding/status/1403252325515513863

16) US Covid is going to ramp up more and more in low vaccinated states. Missouri hospitalizations already surging. More states will follow. The window to vaccinate is closing before #DeltaVariant becomes dominant at 90-100%.

https://twitter.com/drericding/status/1411913368533938178

17) Missouri hospitals now so overwhelmed that it’s adding more COVID ICU wards and sending patients to neighboring states and emergency summoning more nurses and respiratory therapists.

https://twitter.com/caomercysgf/status/1412075853111042060

18) Folks— don’t ignore #DeltaVariant — this is the same variant #B16172 formerly known as the “Indian variant” that led to ~1.6 million deaths in India, and as much as 4.2 million deaths. Let that sink in! Still wanna screw around @sajidjavid and let it burn 🔥 through?!

https://twitter.com/drericding/status/1406794651995148290

19) #DeltaVariant is also known to cause a lot more breakthrough infections. Sad thing is that CDC no longer tracks breakthroughs unless it leads to hospitalizations. And even then some Delta breakthrough hospitalization cases slip through. We must stay vigilant.

https://twitter.com/musicrocksit452/status/1412432119889076225

20) hey folks- please #vaxthatthangup. Thx.

https://twitter.com/drericding/status/1412882749241925635

21) Don’t end up like Missouri. The “Show me” state is showing you what #DeltaVariant can do. Learn from MO and get vaxxed.

https://twitter.com/drericding/status/1412821730058551298