Amid focus on omicron, delta variant overwhelms parts of U.S.

U.S. cases of omicron have been detected in California, Colorado, Hawaii and Minnesota — about 60 miles southeast of St. Cloud in Hennepin County, in a man who traveled to New York City last month. He was vaccinated and has recovered, health officials said. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) said Thursday that five cases have been detected in her state.

But public health experts in Minnesota and nationwide are urging Americans not to lose sight of the fact that the overwhelming majority of the nation’s coronavirus cases — and those in Minnesota — are caused by the highly transmissible delta variant. Over the past six months delta has been responsible for some of the worst spikes of the entire pandemic. It is so contagious that even states with above-average vaccination rates have seen surges — and many are bracing for cases to increase again. ...

Doctors and others on the front lines warn that delta strikes rapidly, filling hospitals so quickly some started rationing care for the first time during the pandemic. Vaccinated people end up infected in higher numbers when transmission is out of control. Although they are unlikely to fall seriously ill, they can still spread the virus, end up with a nasty but clinically mild case they’d rather avoid, or end up hospitalized if they are elderly or immunocompromised.

Even if omicron turns out to be less worrisome than feared, epidemiologists warn that the United States, particularly the Northeast and Upper Midwest, is still headed toward a winter surge fueled by the delta variant as people travel for the holidays and gather indoors during cold weather. While officials are urging Americans to get booster shots to protect themselves as much of the country heads indoors, just over 1 in 5 Americans have received them as immunity from initial shots starts to wane. 

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