What worries about the delta variant, according to a specialist 0:39
(CNN) -
As US states remove more health restrictions related to the new coronavirus, experts are concerned that people who are not fully vaccinated could contribute to the further spread of the virus.
The delta variant, first reported in India, currently accounts for nearly 10% of coronavirus cases in the US, according to the CDC.
Concerned that it will soon become the dominant strain, medical experts stress the importance of full vaccination.
"I am concerned for those who are not vaccinated," US Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy told CNN on Tuesday, noting that the delta variant "is increasing rapidly here in the United States."
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have determined that the delta variant is a "variant of concern," a designation given to strains of the virus that scientists believe are most transmissible. or they can cause a more serious illness.
The delta variant "appears to be significantly more transmissible than even the alpha variant or the UK variant, which is now dominant in the United States," Dr. Murthy told CNN.
advertising
'The second worrying reason is that there is some evidence that, in fact, it can also be more dangerous, it can cause more serious illness.
That still needs to be understood more clearly, but these are two major concerns and are partly explained […] because it has become the dominant variant in the UK, where more than 90% of cases are the delta variant, 'he said. Murthy.
The good news is that the vaccines appear to be effective against the delta variant.
A new study by the Public Health Services of England found that two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine are "highly effective against hospitalization" caused by the delta variant.
The study found that the Pfizer / BioNTech vaccine is 96% effective against hospitalization after two doses.
Murthy said there is not enough data to indicate the effectiveness of Johnson & Johnson's one-dose vaccine with respect to the delta variant, but the vaccine has shown that it can help prevent hospitalizations and deaths when people are infected with other strains.
"The key is to get vaccinated, to get both doses," said Dr. Murthy.
As of Tuesday, 43.9% of the total US population was fully vaccinated against COVID-19, while 52.6% had received at least one dose of a vaccine, according to the CDC.
This comes on the heels of the US surpassing 600,000 deaths from the covid-19 pandemic, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University.
That means that about 1 in 550 people in the US has died from the virus.
CDC Now Classifies Covid-19 Delta Variant as 'Concerning Variant'
States continue to reopen
So far, 14 states have reached Biden's goal of vaccinating 70% of adults with at least one dose by July 4, according to CDC data released Tuesday.
New York is one of the states that reached that milestone, pressuring Governor Andrew Cuomo to lift all health restrictions imposed by the state.
Restrictions were lifted in all business and social settings, including requirements on social gatherings, capacity restrictions, social distancing, health screenings, cleaning and disinfection protocols, and contact tracing.
Mask requirements will continue in pre-K settings, public transportation and healthcare settings, Cuomo said.
Fireworks displays were put up in various locations across the state Tuesday night to celebrate essential workers and the lifting of restrictions.
"This is a momentous day and we deserve it because it has been a very, very, long road," Cuomo said.
"Now we can return to life as we know it."
California also lifted most of its COVID-19 health restrictions on Tuesday, ending capacity limits, physical distancing and mask requirements for those vaccinated.
Here's what to know about California's reopening
Businesses in the state are already adapting.
The Abbey Food & Bar in West Hollywood hosted dancing, DJs, and bar venues for a party to celebrate the end of restrictions.
The Major League Baseball Los Angeles Dodgers held a "Reopening Day" promotion featuring 25,000 Justin Turner dolls to welcome a full-capacity home crowd.
Meanwhile, in Maryland, Gov. Larry Hogan said his state will lift all restrictions related to COVID-19 and the state of emergency on July 1, including mask requirements.
Companies can still enforce their own requirements, Hogan said.
Maryland has vaccinated 72.3% of its adult population with at least one dose so far, CDC data shows.
Delaware is succeeding, with 68.3% of adults receiving at least one dose, Governor John Carney said.
He added that his state hopes to lift its state of emergency order for covid-19 on July 13.
Get vaccinated.
Ask your friends and family if they got the vaccine.
These vaccines are extremely safe and effective, ”Carney said.
Putting more vaccines is the goal
Pediatricians are taking a step forward not only to vaccinate newly eligible children and adolescents against COVID-19, but also adults.
One month after Sandhills Pediatrics in Southern Pines, North Carolina, began offering the covid-19 vaccine, the clinic administered 940 doses of the Pfizer vaccine;
268 were not for patients, but for adults over 23 years of age.
Dr. Christoph Diasio, a pediatrician, said he offers the vaccine to most patients and their families.
WHO endorses that countries consider relaxing restrictions for those fully vaccinated or recovered from covid-19
“I have seen all the reactions from folded arms, basically jumping away from me;
'There's no way I'm going to get that,' to 'I've been meaning to do it, I just haven't been able to schedule it with the job,' "Diasio told CNN.
His office has been offering other routine vaccinations, such as the flu shot, to patients' families for years.
He says the practice is fairly common among pediatricians across the country and can provide some protection for babies who are too young to get the vaccine themselves.
CNN's Laura Ly, Kelsie Smith, Virginia Langmaid, Christina Bowllan, Alec Snyder, Deidre McPhillips, and Lauren Mascarenhas contributed to this report.
Covid-19