Delta variant likely accounting for half of Florida’s cases

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — The Delta variant is now the most dominant strain of COVID-19 in the United States, meaning it likely accounts for half of Florida’s cases as well.

Dr. Nicole Iovine, an infectious disease specialist and chief hospital epidemiologist at the University of Florida, knows the Delta variant is spreading fast in Florida.

And variants like this one come to be as more people become infected.

READ: Delta variant: 5 things to know about the dominant strain of COVID-19 in the US

“By and large, if we could have high vaccination rates over 85%, maybe then there wouldn’t be a chance for these variants to emerge and to cause more surges,” Iovine said.

New data from the Florida Department of Health shows the state has tracked well over 18,600 variant cases through early June.

READ: AdventHealth finding more cases of Delta, Gamma variants in COVID-19 patients

The strains have mostly been found in age groups 15-24, 25-34, 35-44, showing variant infections among children and the elderly are less common.

Doctors are worried the spread of these strains could get worse.

READ: Should schools require the COVID-19 vaccine? Here’s what experts say

5 things to know about the Delta variant of COVID-19 (NCD)

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