GEE AND URSULA

Vaccines don’t stop delta variant transmission, virologist warns

Jul 31, 2021, 5:29 PM | Updated: Aug 2, 2021, 11:26 am

delta variant transmission, masks...

A man holds a sign for fans to mask up during the game between the Seattle Sounders and the Atlanta United at Lumen Field on May 23, 2021 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)

(Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)

New evidence from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicates that the delta variant of COVID-19 is highly transmissible, comparable in its rate of transmission to other highly contagious diseases such as chickenpox.

In a July 30 interview on the Gee and Ursula Show, Dr. Angela Rasmussen, a virologist at Georgetown University, spoke to the CDC’s findings and their possible ramifications.

“The main reason why this is concerning is this suggests that people who are vaccinated and who become infected with delta variants may be capable of transmitting the virus to other people,” she said.

Washington now recommends all people wear masks indoors

She was quick to quell any notion that this finding has any bearing on vaccine efficacy: The vaccines still work at preventing symptomatic and severe COVID-19.

“The vaccines actually all hold up very well against the delta variant, including Johnson & Johnson,” Rasmussen said.

She affirmed that the implicit danger to these findings is that it is possible for the vaccinated to transmit the virus to the unvaccinated. That risk of spread is more severe now when compared with earlier iterations of coronavirus as the delta variant has a more intense viral expression.

“It appears the delta variant sheds … about 1,000 times more virus than other variants that have been circulating. So that just means that if you’re around somebody with delta, they’re going to have 1,000 times more virus coming out of their nose,” she explained.

Health officials worried about a fifth wave in COVID cases, delta variant

It is for this reason that Washington state is following the CDC’s recommendation that all people, which notably encompasses the vaccinated population, wear masks indoors.

“If I got infected with delta and I was asymptomatic, I might not be aware that I was infected, and I really would not want to be going out into my community, potentially exposing other people, particularly if they are unvaccinated, if they’re kids, or if they’re people who are immunocompromised,” she said.

Dr. Rasmussen affirmed mask wearing as a simple, practical, low-cost measure to mitigate the spread of the highly transmissible delta variant.

This recommendation comes in anticipation of a fifth wave of COVID-19 cases.

Listen to the Gee and Ursula Show weekday mornings from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. on KIRO Radio, 97.3 FM. Subscribe to the podcast here.

Gee and Ursula Show

Gee and Ursula

Image: Photo of "The Ascent" by Larry Anderson...

Julia Dallas

‘Gee and Ursula’: Bonney Lake mayor search reveals ‘tea’ on candidate

The City of Bonney Lake is searching for a new mayor after the former mayor accepted a job with the Puyallup Tribe of Indians.

42 minutes ago

Both President Joe Biden and Republican Donald Trump have locked the nomination for their respectiv...

Bill Kaczaraba

Medved: ‘People didn’t really know (or care) there was a primary’

Medved believes that people are unhappy with their choices during this presidential cycle.

2 days ago

Photo: The homeless encampment outside city hall is being moved around Burien to another home at Do...

Ursula Reutin

Ursula: The Burien homeless crisis highlights an even bigger problem

Because of the lack of alternatives, the King County Sheriff has ordered her deputies to not enforce a camping ban in Burien.

6 days ago

court gavel...

Bill Kaczaraba

Gee & Ursula: Should judges be elected or appointed?

Gee & Ursula take on an age-old question: Should judges be elected or appointed? This comes after a case involving Judge Pooja Vaddadi.

11 days ago

...

MyNorthwest Video

Video: Denver Cuts Russell Wilson

Gee Scott joins Seattle Morning News and reacts to Russell Wilson being cut from the Denver Broncos. 📷: Cooper Neill Listen to the Seattle’s Morning News w/ Dave Ross & Colleen O’Brien Show every weekday at 5am on KIRO Newsraio 97.3 FM Listen to the Gee and Ursula Show every weekday at 9am on KIRO […]

13 days ago

...

MyNorthwest Video

Video: Do We Need Algebra 2?

Does Algebra 2 still need to be taught in schools? A study showed that just 11% of jobs in the U.S. require some understanding of Algebra 2 concepts, and only 6% of people regularly use advanced algebraic operations. What do you think? Should Algebra still be a mandatory class? Listen to the Gee and Ursula […]

14 days ago

Vaccines don’t stop delta variant transmission, virologist warns