To the editor:

Only those who haven’t had a shot or two to prevent COVID-19 infection seem to be at risk with the Delta variant of COVID-19. The new variant of COVID-19, the Delta variant, is more communicable. The un-jabbed people of the nation were coming down with COVID at a rate of about 16,000 per day last month. About half, 8,000 of that daily tally, caught the Delta variant in June. The infected had not gotten a shot to prevent the virus. Those who distain the three shots available to head off COVID infection are those who are going to continue to catch and spread the disease. Those without the Fauci ouchy will be doubling the rate of infection in July to 30,000 daily new infections catching COVID-19, 60,000 per day in August, etc. The Delta variant will predictably double the number of infections every two weeks. But it can only stalk those without a shot. The unvaccinated are roughly half of Lee county’s adult population.

In June the Center for Disease Control credited the Delta variant of COVID-19 with half of the infections in the United States. Of the 480,000 infections in June we can assume about 240,000 were Delta variant. There were 9,000 unlucky hospitalizations among these 480,000 un-jabbed last month. “Only” 336 completely unnecessary deaths in June have been reported so far from infections credited to the Delta variant. As with most illness, those who are obese, smoke, or have diabetes are more at risk of hospitalization and or death. The young seem to catch and get ill from the Delta variant more than did from the original COVID-19. This may be because close to 85% of all the elderly have taken a shot in the arm to evade this pandemic. Those who have gotten a shot or two appear to be virtually immune to serious illness.

To skip the illness you can isolate, socially distance, wear a mask, and wash your hands often or, do like the Trump family did: get a shot in the arm.

Ellen Starbird

Cape Coral