A case of the highly contagious Delta variant of the coronavirus has been confirmed in Christian County, according to a Kentucky Department of Public Health report provided to Hoptown Chronicle. It was one of 26 cases of the mutation identified in Kentucky as of Thursday.
However, government and public health officials say the actual number of Delta cases locally and statewide are likely much higher.
First detected in India and previously known as B.1.617.2, the Delta variant is about twice as contagious as the original strain of COVID-19 and may be associated with a higher risk of hospitalization, according to early research. And the pace at which it is spreading in the U.S. has prompted concern from public health officials.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates the variant has accounted for 51.7% of infections in the last few weeks. During the two weeks ending on June 5, it was identified in just 10% of sequenced cases.
“Although we expected the Delta variant to become the dominant strain in the United States, this rapid rise is troubling,” CDC Director Rochelle P. Walensky said during a White House briefing on Thursday.
Walensky warned that the variant is “currently surging in areas of the United States with low vaccination rates” — a point of concern for Christian County, where just 22% of the population is vaccinated. For the last several months, the county’s vaccination rate has been the worst in the state. On Friday, it ranked second to last.
State sees jump in COVID-19 cases
An increase in the prevalence of the variant could explain a recent uptick in COVID-19 cases statewide and in Christian County.
After eight consecutive weeks of decreasing cases, Kentucky saw an increase last week in the number of new coronavirus cases. During the week of June 20, the state confirmed 1,199 cases. The next week, 1,321 were reported.
Gov. Andy Beshear said during a press conference Thursday that it’s likely that approximately half of the state’s new cases are Delta.
“We’ve got 26 confirmed cases of the Delta variant because you don’t sequence every case that comes in,” Beshear said. “We anticipate that our numbers overall of the Delta variant are about where the federal government thinks they are, which is 50% [of all cases].”
Kentucky’s positivity rate, which was 3.10% on Friday, has increased more than a percentage point in the last week and a half.
“It’s really important that people do not get complacent,” Kentucky Public Health Commissioner Dr. Steven Stack said Thursday. “You can’t take this virus casually.”
“The Delta variant is two-and-a-half times or so more effective at spreading, which means if it gets in your community, it’s going to spread real fast. That’s why it’s growing so quickly. And it can hurt people. It may be a little bit more dangerous than the other ones.”
Christian County numbers also trending upward
Although Christian County’s coronavirus numbers remain relatively low and are within the yellow “community spread” zone of transmission, a report Thursday from the health department marked the sharpest one-week increase so far this year.
The county’s seven-day average of new coronavirus cases increased 142% — from seven to 17.
There also has been a jump in the number of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 at Jennie Stuart Medical Center.
After dropping to zero on seven different occasions in the last month, the average number of coronavirus hospitalizations grew to five on Friday — the highest it has been since May 23.
Vaccines shown to be effective against variants
Early data indicate that vaccines are largely effective against COVID-19 variants, including Delta.
Studies show that two doses of the Pfizer vaccine offer somewhere between 79% and 88% protection against the Delta variant. One dose provides significantly less protection — around just 33%.
Effectiveness against serious illness and hospitalization is believed to be even more significant, with a study from Public Health England indicating a single dose of Pfizer’s vaccine was 94% effective at keeping people out of the hospital following an infection of the Delta variant. After two doses, the percentage increased to 96%.
Moderna and Johnson & Johnson have also reported on studies that showed their vaccines to be effective against Delta and other mutations.
“Our authorized vaccines prevent severe disease, hospitalizations and death from the Delta variant. These results have been observed not just here in the United States, but in other countries as well,” Walensky said. “Widespread vaccination is what will truly turn the corner on this pandemic.”
As of Friday, approximately 50% of all Kentuckians had received at least one dose of vaccine. Forty-four percent had been fully vaccinated.
This story has been updated.
Julia Hunter is the engagement editor for Hoptown Chronicle. Reach her at julia@hoptownchronicle.org.
