Unfortunately, Oregon and Lincoln County are no exception to the rise in cases that has
been happening across the country. Data since last week in both the state and our county
are showing a clear uptick in COVID-19 cases. According to the Oregon Health Authority yesterday, the Delta variant is taking hold in Oregon and is estimated to be 80% of all cases in the state last week. According to the CDC, the Delta variant is different than past versions of the virus: it is much more contagious.
• Some vaccinated people can get Delta in a breakthrough infection and may be
contagious. See chart below for cases reported in Lincoln County.
• Vaccinated people still represent a small amount of transmission occurring around
the country and the state.
• Virtually all hospitalizations and deaths continue to be among the unvaccinated.
What do we know about the Delta variant currently?
• We know it’s more contagious and transmissible than the previous variants we
have encountered so far. Data from India, Europe, and now the United States
clearly demonstrate this to us.
• We know it can infect vaccinated people more easily than its predecessors.
• We know vaccinated people may be able to transmit the virus to people around
them.
• We know how to minimize transmission of COVID-19.
How do we prevent the spread of COVID-19 and ensure we protect our community
members who can’t be vaccinated, are in the process of being vaccinated, or have yet to
be vaccinated? Getting vaccinated – for those of us who can – is the best prevention and
protection measure. The vaccines are very efficient and very protective against severe
COVID-19 disease, hospitalizations, and deaths. They also help reduce the spread of the
virus in communities. However, the vaccines are not 100% effective at disease
prevention. This has been a known fact from the beginning.
Therefore, wearing a mask in public indoor settings – even for vaccinated people –
will add another layer of protection and help prevent the spread of the Delta variant
in our communities and protect others. This is why both the CDC and the Oregon
Health Authority are recommending that everyone wear a mask in indoor public settings
regardless of their vaccination status. Public health officials remind of the need to adapt and
react fast to these new variants so we can curb the increase in cases and prevent the virus
from mutating again and possibly becoming more resistant to the vaccines we have
available to us.
You don’t know the vaccination status of those around you and don’t know their health status or whether they might be immune compromised. Wearing a mask removes the need to guess. Wearing a mask ensures that, if you were able to transmit the virus - even though vaccinated - you would not transmit it to folks who cannot be or who are not yet vaccinated.
To find a vaccination clinic near you, either call 211 or visit our website here:
