Delta is the Dominant Variant in Tompkins County, Health Department Confirms
(Dominick Recckio / Tompkins County)
TOMPKINS COUNTY, NY -- The Delta Variant is the dominant variant of COVID-19 in Tompkins County.
The Tompkins County Health Department confirmed it’s prevalence on Tuesday. The Health Department sequenced 87 virus samples from county residents infected in June and July; 80 of those people were infected with the Delta Variant.
According to the CDC, The Delta Variant is twice as contagious as the original COVID-19 strain, and is able to break through the protection of vaccines. The Health Department reported on August 5th, that since January 2021, only 0.2 percent of Tompkins County’s vaccinated population have tested positive for COVID-19.
Out of an abundance of caution, the Health Department has issued masking guidance to those indoors and around others. It is not understood what the transmission rates are among vaccinated people who are infected with COVID-19 but are asymptomatic.
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