Delta variant in Missouri goes from single digits to nearly 90% in two months

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

According to new data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the delta variant now accounts for nearly 90% of all new COVID-19 cases in Missouri.

In less than two months, the proportion of the delta variant in Missouri went from less than 7% to just under 90%.

On June 8, delta accounted for only 6.8% of Missouri cases. Then on June 22, that number increased to 29.1%. Skip ahead to July 6 and the proportion jumped all the way to 73.3%. Data released Tuesday show the delta variant now accounts for 89.9% of all Missouri cases.

On Tuesday, Dr. Rochelle Walensky, the director of the CDC, spoke about the national increase in delta. She said areas with low vaccination rates, like Missouri, are seeing a higher proportion of delta.

"The Delta variant now represents 83 percent of sequenced cases. This is a dramatic increase, up from 50 percent for the week of July 3rd. In some parts of the country the percentage is even higher, particularly in areas of low vaccination rates," Walensky said.

According to the latest data from Missouri's vaccine dashboard, 46.3% of Missourians have had at least one dose of the vaccine, and 40.3% have completed vaccination. Nationally, 56.2% of Americans have had one dose and 48.7% are fully vaccinated.

Missouri currently has the highest proportion of delta in the United States. Nevada is second, with delta accounting for 71% of COVID-19 cases.