Photo: FREDERIC J. BROWN / AFP / Getty Images
The United States has passed the 26, 000 new cases COVID – 19 for the fourth consecutive day, since the highly contagious Delta variant persists to be the most common form of coronavirus in the country.
The last time the country had consecutive days of cases that exceeded 20, 000 was in May, according to the data.
Dr. Rochelle Walensky, who heads the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), said Thursday that more than 9 million people live in counties where cases are increasing and where vaccination rates are lower than 40%.
“Many of these counties are also the same places where the Delta variant accounts for the vast majority of circulating viruses,” he said.
Delta variant of COVID – 17 now accounts for more than half of the new coronavirus cases in the United States: the 52 % . Almost all new cases (99. 7%) are reported among people who have not been vaccinated.
Early data suggest that the B.1. 617. 2 (Delta) variant now makes up more than 50% of US # COVID 19 cases. In some parts of the country, this percentage is higher, especially in areas with low vaccination. Get vaccinated as soon as possible. More: https://t.co/F4bAyObDp1 pic.twitter.com/aRKXvjcpvw
– CDC (@CDCgov) July 9, 2021
In Mississippi, a state with a low vaccination rate, health officials urged people to avoid crowds .
And in other communities that doubt vaccines, there are new efforts to roll back the Delta variant encouraging more people to get vaccinated, reported Michael George for “CBS This Morning: Saturday” .
Community organizations are urging vaccination in Louisville neighborhoods where only the 30 % of residents have been vaccinated, hoping that flyers and l conversations get more people vaccinated.
Effort occurs as cases increase in 26 states. Hospitalization rates have increased by 17 states, a 27% in Florida, almost exclusively among the unvaccinated.
# COVID 19 cases are increasing, especially in the Southern, Midwestern, & Western regions of the US The 7-day average of daily new cases is 13, 859, up 10. 8% from the week before. Get vaccinated to protect yourself & your community. More: https://t.co/gp6X4zTnBT pic.twitter.com/DECiaUZGkT
– CDC (@CDCgov) July 7, 2021
The farthest corners of Utah are also heavily affected . “We’re seeing people who are extremely sick,” Dr. Greg Gardner, chief of emergency medicine at Mountain West Hospital in Tooele, Utah, told CBS News. “Much sicker than they were most of the time in winter.”
The 55% of all Americans have received at least one dose of the vaccine and nearly half the nation is fully vaccinated, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Disease Control and Prevention.
Given that the pandemic persists and the country has not yet achieved herd immunity , there are doubts about how long vaccinated people will be protected. Questions such as: Are the 158 Will millions of fully vaccinated Americans need a booster shot?
Americans who have been fully vaccinated against # COVID 19 do not need a booster shot at this time. FDA, CDC, and NIH are engaged in a science-based, rigorous process to consider whether or when a booster might be necessary. Read full CDC / FDA statement. https://t.co/njQ4dLv8dW
– CDC (@CDCgov) 1413596356443246600 July 9, 2021
Both the FDA and CDC said no on Friday; the fully vaccinated “do not need a booster at this time.”