3 COVID-19 Delta Variant Cases Confirmed In WilCo

WILLIAMSON COUNTY, TX —Williamson County and Cities Health District have confirmed three cases of the delta variant of COVID-19 in Williamson County.

The variant, which was first detected in India in April and May, was discovered and confirmed through lab testing in June, authorities announced Friday.

Delta was demonstrated to be around 60 percent more transmissible than the already highly infectious alpha variant identified in the United Kingdom in late 2020, authorities said.

“It is not surprising to see the delta variant in our community given how rapidly it spreads,” said WCCHD Lead Epidemiologist Allison Stewart. “The good news is that the mRNA vaccines have been proven to be highly effective against this variant. The concern locally is that we have more than half the county that isn’t vaccinated and whom are still highly susceptible to this variant.”

According to the Texas Department of State Health Services, about 56.76 percent of Williamson County residents are fully vaccinated as of Thursday. About 328, 319 residents have received at least one dose of the coronavirus vaccine.

Authorities said the delta variant may be associated with an increased risk of hospitalization but that vaccines are still highly effective against it, according to current scientific evidence data.

The delta variant is thought to be responsible for only a small proportion of the current COVID-19 cases in Texas and the United States, but the proportion of cases is growing quickly and is estimated to be the dominant strain in the U.S. as early as August, officials said.

At this time, COVID-19 vaccinations are widely available for ages 12 years and older at Williamson County clinics, walk-up locations and pharmacies seven days a week. Visit the county's website for a list of available vaccine locations.