Delta variant can infect you within ‘seconds’ if you’re unvaccinated, doctor says

ATLANTA — New research shows why the delta variant of COVID-19 is so contagious. The virus replicates more quickly, allowing it to easily spread.

Channel 2 Investigative Reporter Sophia Choi learned the steps doctors are urging you to take to stay safe.

First on the list? Get vaccinated.

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“If you’re not vaccinated, you’re going to get it,” Dr. Carlos del Rio said. This delta variant will find you.”

Dr. del Rio, who is Emory University’s top epidemiologist, has studied the various COVID-19 variants. He said the delta variant is especially dangerous because of how fast it replicates.

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“In your respiratory secretions, if you’re infected with delta, you have very high levels of virus in your nose, in your respiratory secretions,” del Rio said. “You have a thousand times greater amount of virus.”

New data shows that instead of 15 minutes worth of exposure like the original strain of COVID, it only takes seconds of exposure for the delta variant to infect you.

In the original strain, infected people would infect two to three other people. With this strain, one infected person passes the virus on to up to eight more people.

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The variant is attacking the unvaccinated at an alarming rate, where many least expect it, at home.

“The great majority of people infected that we’re seeing, people get infected inside their house,” del Rio said. “Because you know, you are in the house. You are not wearing a mask. You had a family member that came in infected and everybody in the house gets infected.”

While the virus can linger in the air, del Rio believes it’s highly unlikely you’ll catch it just walking through an enclosed space.

He said as long as you follow COVID protocols like masking up, washing you hands, sanitizing your space, social distancing and getting the vaccine, you’ll be fine. It also may be a good idea to open your window when you’re sharing the air in your car, your home or any other enclosed space.

“This is not a poltergeist. It’s not a monster. This is a virus,” del Rio said. " We know how it’s transmitted. We know how to protect ourselves. "

Dr. del Rio said hospitals are already filling up and Georgia hasn’t even reached its peak yet from this strain. He said he expects that to hit around Labor Day.

Channel 2′s Carol Sbarge talked to Dr. Felipe Lobelo, the director of epidemiology at Kaiser Permanente, who said he thinks it actually could be more like mid-September.

Lobelo said the surge of cases among kids could prolong this latest wave. For a week now, the positivity rate has stayed above 16% in Georgia. Six weeks ago, it was down below 2%.

“Over the next few weeks, we can expect cases are going to be fueled by the fact that schools are opening and there’s still a large proportion of people in Georgia and Atlanta that are not vaccinated,” Lobelo said.

Lobelo is concerned about children bringing the virus home to unvaccinated families.

“We will be more protected if more people get their vaccine,” Lobelo said.

Lobelo supports the booster shot that will be available on Sept. 20, but he’s more concerned about getting more people vaccinated in the first place.

Delta variant can infect you within ‘seconds’ if you’re unvaccinated, doctor says “If you’re not vaccinated, you’re going to get it,” Dr. Carlos del Rio said. This Delta variant will find you.

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