A study published on August 27 on the website of the international medical journal 'The Lancet' indicates that the delta variant of the new coronavirus can double the risk of hospitalization in people who have not yet taken any dose or have not completed the immunization cycle against COVID-19. Figures from the Laboratory of Technological Innovation in Health at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (LAIS/UFRN), requested by the Santos Dumont Institute (ISD), indicate that approximately 60.3 thousand people are behind on their vaccination cycle in the state. Of these, approximately 20.5 thousand are elderly people aged 60 or over, one of the risk groups for the disease.

“The delta variant was first identified in India, and we already know that it has a higher chance of transmission than the other variants that we have seen circulating in our country so far. We already know that it spreads twice as easily as the other variants. In a study published three days ago in The Lancet, it was also shown that the delta variant in unvaccinated patients increases the chance of complications from COVID and of the patient needing to be hospitalized,” warns the medical preceptor in Infectology at ISD, Carolina Damásio.

She also emphasizes that people who have not taken the single dose of the COVID-19 vaccine or who have not completed the vaccination cycle with two doses should follow the health rules against the disease and, preferably, seek out a Basic Health Unit or drive-thru points provided by the Municipalities to complete the immunization. “For patients who have not yet been vaccinated and who have not yet taken the two full doses, in the case of vaccines that are two doses, the guidance is to continue with the preventive measures. They are effective against the delta variant. So, wear a mask, maintain social distancing and avoid crowds. These are the recommendations for everyone and, especially, for those who have not received both doses of the vaccine. Those who are late with their vaccination should hurry to get vaccinated. Vaccines are effective in preventing hospitalizations and complications due to COVID”, emphasizes Carolina Damásio. Throughout Brazil, according to data from the Ministry of Health, more than 8.5 million people are late with their immunization schedule. 

The infectious disease specialist, who in addition to working at the Santos Dumont Institute (ISD) also works at a referral hospital for COVID-19 treatment in Rio Grande do Norte, says that the risk of a third wave of the disease is real. In the United States, the states of Florida and Texas have the highest number of cases of the new strain. “I think this possibility is very real. In the United States, most states were more advanced in their vaccination efforts than we were, and now they are suffering in many places, and many states have cities with a higher number of hospitalized patients than they have had throughout the pandemic. This is a warning to us to hurry up with vaccination and, at the same time, not to relax with protective measures.” 

Community transmission

In Rio Grande do Norte, the circulation of the delta variant was confirmed by the Institute of Tropical Medicine (IMT/UFRN). At least two people have been diagnosed with the new strain of COVID-19. Both have no vaccination history for the disease. Last week, the Natal Municipal Health Department (SMS Natal) confirmed another case of the disease and found that there is community transmission of the new strain. This occurs when it is no longer possible to identify the origin/transmission of the infection.

According to the Natal Health Department, when it is not possible to identify the source of transmission of a disease, it means that the virus is circulating in the environment. “In other words, there is already community transmission in the capital,” says Juliana Araújo, director of the Health Surveillance Department of the Natal Health Department. The municipal department is once again appealing to people to complete their vaccination schedule and not neglect protective measures, such as washing their hands, wearing masks and avoiding crowds. Across Brazil, more than 1,500 people have already been infected by the delta variant of the coronavirus.