COVID-19 delta variant spreading across Hawaii, Health Department says
STAR-ADVERTISER
The delta variant of COVID-19 is rapidly spreading across Hawaii, according to a recent Department of Health report, with 53 additional cases detected since June.
That brings the total number of delta cases detected in the state to 57, with the additional cases added to the four that were detected on June 23.
Health officials said during a news conference at the time that it was likely an undercount of the highly contagious variant, and that the numbers would likely grow in the ensuing three weeks.
It is now present in all four counties, with the majority of cases, 27, in Honolulu County, seven in Maui County, 14 in Hawaii County and five in Kauai County.
Of the delta cases, health officials said there are 10 that contain the spike K417N mutation, also known as the “delta plus” variant in India. Eight of these were found in Maui County and two in Honolulu County.
Officials said there is evidence of local transmission, and that one case was due to inter-county transmission.
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The latest collection dates for specimens containing the delta variant ranged from June 15 to 24.
The first case of the delta variant was detected in a fully vaccinated Oahu resident who had traveled to Nevada in early May. The other three cases in late June were all in people who were not vaccinated against the coronavirus.
The state Health Department continues to urge all those who are not vaccinated yet against COVID-19 to do so as protection against the delta variant and other variants.
“The highly transmissible Delta variant is now on our shores,” said DOH in a tweet today. “If you aren’t vaccinated yet, you are putting yourself and your loved ones at risk.”
The following is the breakdown of variants of concern detected statewide in the Health Department’s report released on Monday:
>> B.1.1.7, which emerged in the United Kingdom, also known as Alpha, 577 cases
>> P.1., which emerged in Brazil, also known as Gamma, 157 cases
>> B.1.617.2, which emerged in India, also known as Delta, 57 cases
>> B.1.351, which emerged in South Africa, also known as Beta, 13 cases
Source: Department of Health Variant Report (July 12, 2021)
