Science: The Delta Variant Isn't Just Hyper-Contagious. It Also Grows More Rapidly Inside You

[riversedge]

This is very scary stuff. very. I wear a mask when out doing tasks and keep them at a minimum.
BUT I see NO one wearing masks. Maybe ONE or two but that is the exception.



The Delta Variant Isn't Just Hyper-Contagious. It Also Grows More Rapidly Inside You

https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2021/07/08/1013794996/why-the-delta-variant-is-so-contagious-a-new-study-sheds-light

July 8, 20211:45 PM ET
Michaeleen Doucleff 2016 square


The numerals in this illustration show the main mutation sites of the delta variant of the coronavirus, which is likely the most contagious version. Here, the virus's spike protein (red) binds to a receptor on a human cell (blue).
Juan Gaertner/Science Source

After months of data collection, scientists agree: The delta variant is the most contagious version of the coronavirus worldwide. It spreads about 225% faster than the original version of the virus, and it's currently dominating the outbreak in the United States.

A new study, published online Wednesday, sheds light on why. It finds that the variant grows more rapidly inside people's respiratory tracts and to much higher levels, researchers at the Guangdong Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention reported.

On average, people infected with the delta variant had about 1,000 times more copies of the virus in their respiratory tracts than those infected with the original strain of the coronavirus, the study reported.

In addition, after someone catches the delta variant, the person likely becomes infectious sooner. On average, it took about four days for the delta variant to reach detectable levels inside a person, compared with six days for the original coronavirus variant.....................


https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2021/07/07/sciencesource_ss1251573-edit_custom-dfc25aa9e361d5a51c5cb3ae2d12b948fd0f2798-s800-c85.webp



The numerals in this illustration show the main mutation sites of the delta variant of the coronavirus, which is likely the most contagious version. Here, the virus's spike protein (red) binds to a receptor on a human cell (blue).
Juan Gaertner/Science Source

[FBaggins]

1. That's not unexpected... and may be a good thing

Last edited Fri Jul 9, 2021, 11:31 AM - Edit history (1)

It’s likely more contagious because it grows more rapidly (and thus you shed more virus earlier in your infection).

[Ford_Prefect]

2. The question I have is whether the locales where it has been detected here were the result

of contact transmission, or are we seeing a variant arise that is in the sequence of the evolution of COVID-19. Is it doing so independent of exposure to the original sources (India or UK for example)? I ask because some of the locations seem rather isolated from the apparent sources. I ask because one proposed fear was that the longer COVID remains unchecked the more likely there will be mutations arise which will be more infectious and virulent and which restart the pandemic cycle.

Has anyone been testing and comparing the samples found in comparison to the DNA of the Indian or UK variant versus some other origin?

Yes I know it infects rapidly in groups of people and seems to by-pass ordinary precautions like masks and social distancing. I know it as produced asymptomatic breakthrough infections which could lead to broader spreading as well.

[RussBLib]

3. Is Delta more deadly?

I have heard that it is NOT as deadly, then I heard that it is even more virulent. Now I cannot find any consensus.