The World Health Organization is once again recommending masks and social distancing to combat the new strain of COVID-19, known as the Delta variant. | stock photo
The World Health Organization is once again recommending masks and social distancing to combat the new strain of COVID-19, known as the Delta variant. | stock photo
The COVID-19 virus is beginning to mutate, and as a new variant called Delta develops, health experts are offering opinions for the best course of action for governments to take.
Dr. Graham Snyder, who is the medical director of Infection Prevention and Hospital Epidemiology at University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, offered his advice for individuals who are vaccinated in light of the new variant.
“You may have others around you who you want to protect. People in your household, loved ones in your community who may be vulnerable -- and may be vulnerable even if they’re vaccinated,” Snyder said, according to CBS Pittsburgh.
While the COVID-19 vaccination is offering protection against the original strain of the virus, there is still a risk that the Delta variant might be spreading more quickly than other variants did before.
“What the WHO (World Health Organization) is essentially saying is, we can’t rely on the vaccine as a layer of protection for us as a globe,” Snyder told CBS Pittsburgh.
The Pennsylvania Department of Health stated that the variant is already beginning to spread throughout the state.
“We have to still rely on a second layer of protection: masks and distancing until vaccination picks up,” Snyder said.
According to a survey conducted by the Trafalgar Group in June, 63% of 1,101 respondents, who are likely general election voters, said that the government should take no action in response to the Delta variant and should leave the response and action up to individuals.
Among Democrats, this number was 50.1%, with 25.8% suggesting that governments should mandate masks and social distancing.
Eighty-three percent of Republicans believe that the government should take no action, with only 7.2% believing in a mandate of masks and social distancing in response to the Delta variant.
Individuals without party affiliation, or belonging to an independent party, responded 55.5% that the government should take no action, with 19.2% pushing for mandates of masks and social distancing.
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