US CDC shares 'pivotal discovery' on COVID-19 breakthrough infections that led to new mask guidance

"High viral loads suggest an increased risk of transmission and raised concern that, unlike with other variants, vaccinated people infected with Delta can transmit the virus," Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said in a statement Friday.

On Tuesday, Walensky previewed these findings while unveiling guidance that people in areas with"high" or"substantial" Covid-19 transmission should resume wearing masks indoors. Over 75% of the US population live in these areas. On Thursday, a CDC internal document said the Delta variant was roughly as transmissible as as chickenpox, whereas an early strain was closer to the common cold. This means that, under certain conditions, an infected person may have transmitted to two or three people, on average, early in the outbreak. But now, with Delta, that number could be five to nine.

The new report says that"microbiological studies are required to confirm these findings" of similar viral loads among breakthrough infections. It also notes that"asymptomatic breakthrough infections might be underrepresented" because they are less likely to be detected. "Getting vaccinated continues to prevent severe illness, hospitalization and death -- even with Delta," Walensky said this week.Of those five, one person was unvaccinated and had underlying medical conditions, and four were vaccinated. The vaccinated individuals ranged in age from 20 to 70, and two had underlying health conditions.

Philippines Latest News, Philippines Headlines

Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.

FALSE: UK, US underreport COVID-19 vaccine adverse effectsFactCheck: The study cited in the video has been previously debunked. The agencies monitoring the cases say that the actual number of cases may be lower than what is reported.
Source: rapplerdotcom - 🏆 4. / 86 Read more »

AstraZeneca CEO hopeful COVID-19 vaccine may still have role in USAstraZeneca still plans to seek U.S. approval for its COVID-19 vaccine even though the process there is taking longer than expected, because it may still be used in the country in the future, CEO Pascal Soriot said Thursday. | Reuters
Source: inquirerdotnet - 🏆 3. / 86 Read more »

China battles biggest COVID-19 outbreak in monthsHundreds of thousands of people in China were in coronavirus lockdown Friday as the country battled its worst outbreak in months, while the United States intensified vaccination efforts in the face of a Delta variant-fueled surge.
Source: ANCALERTS - 🏆 26. / 50 Read more »

More health workers, COVID-19 beds needed as Iloilo City's hospitals reach full capacityTreñas attributed their situation to the areas outside that kept on sending their patients to their city. Many severe and critical COVID-19 patients from Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Guimaras and the provinces of Iloilo, he said, are being referred to them.
Source: ABSCBNNews - 🏆 5. / 83 Read more »

LOOK: Sid Lucero, may nakakatuwang experience sa kanyang COVID-19 vaccination'I thought we were just doing the photo. She couldn't wait!' kuwento ni Sid Lucero nang makuha niya ang kanyang bakuna.
Source: gmanetwork - 🏆 12. / 63 Read more »

COVID-19 linked to cognitive decline, acceleration of Alzheimer's-like symptoms, research findsCOVID-19 may be associated with cognitive decline and acceleration of Alzheimer's-like symptoms, researchers reported Thursday.
Source: CNN Philippines - 🏆 13. / 63 Read more »