Cases Of COVID-19 Delta Variant On Rise In U.S.

WASHINGTON, DC — Cases of a new highly contagious COVID-19 variant are on the rise in the United States and are now responsible for more than 18 percent of cases in some parts of the country.

The Delta variant, first detected in India, now accounts for more than 6 percent of all current COVID-19 cases in the United States, according to a National Public Radio report citing Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. However, the variant is showing up more frequently in Western states, where it accounts for nearly 1 in 5 cases.

The variant, also known as B.1.617.2, has already spread rapidly in other parts of the world. It's now the dominant strain in the United Kingdom, where it's responsible for more than 60 percent of new infections.

Read more via NPR