How dangerous is the Delta variant (B.1.617.2)?
For a world that has become weary but used to playing defense against SARS-CoV-2, the evolution of the Delta variant is unwelcome and unsurprising. Delta, or B.1.617.2 , was first identified in India in December 2020. In a matter of months, this specific variant has spread to over 98 countries around the world, becoming the dominant variant in over a dozen of these countries, including India, Scotland, the United Kingdom, Israel and the United States. Delta now accounts for more than 83% of reported COVID-19 cases in the US, and with only 48% of the total US population fully vaccinated, conditions are ripe for the continued evolution and spread of SARS-CoV-2. Three fundamental questions continue to drive research with each new variant identified. 1. HOW CONTAGIOUS IS THE DELTA VARIANT? Scientifically accurate atomic model of coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2). Source: Alexey Solodovnikov (idea,...