Throughout the summer months, the threat of the Delta Variant of the COVID-19 virus has been rising. As the most contagious strain of COVID-19 yet, the Delta variant was responsible for 83.4% of new infections in the United States, according to the Center for Disease Control (CDC) as of July 31. 

     The COVID-19 vaccine still proves to be effective against the new strain. According to Yale Medicine, the Pfizer vaccine was 96% effective against hospitalization from the Delta variant and 86% effective against symptom presenting disease from the Delta variant. 

     The CDC issued a statement urging vaccinated individuals to start wearing masks again and many counties reinstated mask mandates. 

    “High viral loads suggest an increased risk of transmission and raised concern that, unlike with other variants, vaccinated people infected with Delta can transmit the virus,” CDC Director Rochelle P. Walensky said in a statement issued by the CDC. “This finding is concerning and was a pivotal discovery leading to CDC’s updated mask recommendation.”