A big unknown: Is Delta more severe than earlier versions of the virus?

Maybe this frame is helpful: For children and vaccinated adults without other major health problems, there are a lot of reassuring signs. Covid appears to present less risk than some other daily activities. Among Americans under 17, fewer than 500 have died of Covid since the pandemic began; many more — a few thousand every year — die in vehicle crashes.

Advertisement

As Wachter said about Covid this week, “Risk is low enough to live life, high enough to be careful.”

For people who do have a health condition that increases their risks — like severe obesity, a previous organ transplant or an active case of cancer — the calculations may be different. Most children hospitalized with Covid, for example, have been older teenagers with a serious pre-existing health condition, Dr. Jennifer Lighter of N.Y.U. told me. Because Delta has caused a surge in Covid cases, it represents a threat to vulnerable people.

The hardest calls may be for vaccinated people who are over 65 and generally healthy. Delta’s severity does not appear to be fundamentally different for them, either. But their hospitalization rate has risen more rapidly in recent weeks than that of other groups. I understand why some older people may choose to err on the side of caution until we better understand Delta.

Join the conversation as a VIP Member

Trending on HotAir Videos

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement