What you need to know about the Delta variant.

Today I visited the front line of where it all begins, Greater Meridian Clinic. Typically, clinics are the first stop for people to be diagnosed with COVID. Nurse practitioner Tan Wilson explains the seriousness of the delta variant. “The Delta variant has been found to have increased transmissibility meaning that there is an easier and higher chance of you contracting the virus as well as you are passing it on to someone else. It has also been found that it causes more incidents of serious illness and it’s also affecting young people more than the original COVID virus.”

Nurse Wilson also provided those that are at greater risk for the delta variant. “Of course the non vaccinated remains at highest risk for contracting the Covid-19 virus including the Delta variant but we have also found that vaccinated people have also found to contact the Delta variant but in the vaccinated people there is a less chance of a serious illness, death or hospitalization.” I asked nurse Wilson when being tested for COVID if there was a way to know if someone contracted the delta variant or not. “As of now, we do not have a way to distinguish between the original COVID and the delta variant when we do our testing.” The people of Meridian gave their opinions on getting the vaccination. “Some people have allergies to certain medications and sometimes vaccinations can be a good thing but if you have an allergy in the vaccination how is that going to help you in the long run so it’s really a 50/50 shot regardless of how you feel about it.” “I think if we want to get back to our normal lifestyle them, I think it’s a problem to go and get vaccinated to be date out here in this world it would be the best thing to do. With Mississippi’s low vaccination rates Nurse Practitioner Tan Wilson states that those that are not vaccinated and those that are vaccinated should still continue to mask up as a precaution and continue practicing CDC guidelines. Donisha Branham Twin States News Meridian.