In almost all viral mutations, a mutation can only become more infectious if, at the same time, it’s less deadly. This means that if a virus is 5 times more infectious, it should also be 5 times less lethal. Vaughn says, “It’s important to note that the more infectious a virus is, it is usually equally less lethal.

The Delta variant is six to ten times more infectious than the original virus. Current ADPH data indicates that most COVID-19 infections in Alabama are the Delta variant. The Delta variant is quickly becoming the dominant strain of Covid. This mutation has enabled the virus to spread more easily and to also break through the defenses provided by the three Covid vaccines. In other words, the structure of this virus is different from the original strain of Covid-19. The Delta variant has a mutation on the spike protein. The Delta variant is one specific variant of the original coronavirus that was first identified in late 2020, and in early July, it became the dominant form of Covid that is circulating in the United States. Scientists have been tracking several variants of Covid through genetic tracing.

Like all other viruses, this virus began to adapt and mutate. Sars-COV-2, more commonly known as the coronavirus or Covid-19, first emerged in late 2019 and began to spread in the United States in early 2020. What is the Delta variant, and how does it differ from the original strain of Covid-19?

What is the delta variant