The highly contagious COVID-19 delta variant has been found in all 50 states and experts warn unvaccinated individuals and younger populations are highly susceptible to contracting the virus and becoming seriously ill. This variant is presenting a significant threat in several states where vaccination rates remain low:
- Arkansas cases increased more than 80 percent in the last two weeks, with the delta variant making up more than 25 percent of cases in the state;
- Missouri has seen a spike in delta variant cases over the last week and only 39 percent of the eligible state population is vaccinated;
- Nevada, struggling with significant increases in delta variant cases and decreasing vaccination rates, announced it will ask for assistance from the federal government to respond to this new threat; and
- Utah experienced an increase in daily averages of cases over the last two weeks and a 70 percent increase in the presence of the delta variant.
Visit the America’s Essential Hospitals coronavirus resource page for more information about the pandemic.
Contact Senior Director of Policy Erin O’Malley at eomalley@essentialhospitals.org or 202.585.0127 with questions.
