In the UK, the threat of the Delta variant is well known. Now, the US is coming to that realisation.

Ever since the UK began relaxing and removing its preventative measures against Covid-19, cases have been steadily on the rise. During July, the number of cases was regularly over 30,000 each day. The Delta variant of Covid-19 was the cause.

However, there appears to be some light at the end of the Covid tunnel for the UK. Cases are declining whilst the number of hospitalisations remains manageable. The vaccines are cutting the link between contracting the virus and needing medical attention. Although the effect of freedom day remains to be seen, the UK may well have turned the corner.

The same cannot be said for the US.

What is the current situation?

It may have taken some time for the Delta variant to take hold in the US, but it is now running wild. Across every state, cases are rising. In Wisconsin, the 14-day change in cases is up by 319%, the highest in the US. Mississippi is second with its 14-day change in cases up by 276%. In the US as a whole, cases have risen by 149% in the last fortnight.

Hospitalisations are also rising. In the last 14 days, 45,298 Americans have been hospitalised. The number of deaths is not spiking. Currently, the 7-day average for deaths is 310. During the previous wave, the US was averaging more than 3,000 deaths a week.

The overall picture of the pandemic in the US is worrying. In Florida, the situation is worsening quickly. On August 1, the Sunshine State set the new record for hospitalisations from Covid-19 with 10,207. The previous record was 10,170, which was set on July 23, 2020. Florida also has the most cases per capita in the country.

Florida is now at the centre of this latest Covid wave. Although the virus is spreading at a lightning pace, the state is not taking steps to stop the virus from spreading further. The Republican Governor in Florida, Ron DeSantis, is refusing to institute mask mandates. When students return to schools next month, students will not be required to wear masks as DeSantis barred school districts from enforcing mask mandates.

DeSantis has regularly criticised federal health officials and their guidance. DeSantis’s ire is currently directed towards Anthony Fauci, the Chief Medical Advisor to President, with the slogan ‘Freedom over Faucism‘. Health experts are reacting angrily to DeSantis’s approach to the latest Covid wave. Bernard Ashby, a Miami cardiologist and leader of the Florida chapter of the Committee to Protect Health Care, has come out strongly against DeSantis:

‘While hospitals in our state were filling up, DeSantis was shouting about “Freedom over Faucism”. If DeSantis were as concerned about stopping COVID-19 spread as he was about coming up with these clever jabs about Dr. Fauci, we might not be in this position.’

What does the future hold?

Fauci is predicting that the US has not yet seen the worst of the current Covid surge. Pointing to the seven-day average of cases, Fauci is warning the outbreak will continue to grow, especially among the unvaccinated population. Across all age groups in the US, 49% of people are fully vaccinated, leaving 100 million Americans unvaccinated. The unvaccinated population is most at risk from the Delta variant. Fauci is describing this as ‘a pandemic among the unvaccinated‘.

Cases remain low among the vaccinated population. Of those fully vaccinated, only 1 in 1000 are returning positive tests. To that end, Fauci sees the task at hand as a mission to persuade the unvaccinated to get vaccinated:

‘We’ve really got to get those people to change their minds, make it easy for them, convince them, do something to get them to be vaccinated because they are the ones that are propagating this outbreak.’

Despite the resistance, more accounts of vaccine regret are emerging. The Washington Post reported the story of Micheal Freedy, 39 and Jessica DuPreez, 37. The couple were waiting a year to get the vaccine to learn more about how people reacted to the vaccine.

Then Freedy contracted Covid-19. Freedy was placed in intensive care but later died. Before he died, he told DuPreez of his regret that he did not get the vaccine. Now, DuPreez is on a mission to convince others to get the vaccine. If he had gotten his vaccine, Freedy would likely still be alive.

Such stories could help to persuade more people to get the vaccine. The misinformation around the efficacy and safety of the vaccines is leaving millions of Americans at risk. Now, there is a scramble to convince those at risk to protect themselves.

Fauci does not, however, believe that the US will experience another lockdown. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently changed its advice. It now recommends that vaccinated Americans wear masks indoors in some parts of America.

The majority of Americans support wearing masks. According to a new Hill-HarrisX poll, 74% of Americans support wearing masks if there is a Covid spike in their area. Even amongst Republicans, who have historically been more resistant to anti-Covid measures, 59% would support a mask mandate.

The new guidance from the CDC indicates that the US is aware of the threat posed by the Delta variant. The challenge is to convince the sceptical Americans.

About the Author: James Hingley

James Hingley is a contributing Features Writer with extensive expertise in International Relations, Politics and Culture.