Delta Variant Now Dominant Strand Of COVID-19 In Ohio

COLUMBUS, OH — The delta variant of COVID-19 is now the dominant strand of the virus in Ohio.

In May, the delta variant accounted for fewer than 1 percent of lab-sequenced cases in Ohio, the state health department announced. The most recent analysis, from data collected between July 3 and July 17, showed that 86.4 percent of lab-sequenced cases were from the delta variant.

Since January 1, 2021, 18,637 unvaccinated Ohioans have been hospitalized because of COVID-19, the Ohio Department of Health announced. Only 295 vaccinated Ohioans have been hospitalized during that same time frame.

Between Jan. 1 and now, at least 6,864 unvaccinated Ohioans have died from COVID-19, the state health department said. Only 64 vaccinated Ohioans have died due to the virus during that same time span.

"For those who get infected with the Delta variant, experts say they may have a higher viral load than those who are infected with other strains. It is much more contagious than any version of COVID-19 that we have encountered and remains exceedingly dangerous to those who are not vaccinated," Gov. Mike DeWine's office said in a statement.

One of the few positives related to the ascendance of the delta variant is fear of the virus spurring renewed interest in vaccination, Gov. Mike DeWine said Friday. In July, 85 of Ohio's 88 counties saw an increase in their vaccination rate.

According to DeWine, 60 percent of Ohioans 18 and older have received at least part of a COVID-19 vaccine, while 58 percent of eligible Ohioans have started the vaccination process. Vaccines have still not been approved for people younger than 12, so approximately 50 percent of all Ohioans have received a COVID-19 vaccine.

“We have vaccines that are powerful and do an amazing job. They are so powerful that we now live in a state with two groups of people – those vaccinated and those not,” DeWine said. “Those who are vaccinated are safe, those who are not vaccinated are not safe.”