Delta variant of coronavirus arrives in Illinois with 64 cases diagnosed - Daily Herald

Illinois Department of Public Health officials reported Tuesday that 64 cases of the "more transmissible" COVID-19 Delta variant have been diagnosed in the state.

CDC researchers said the Delta variant accounted for 2.7% of new variant cases in the U.S.

Researchers are hopeful because the AstraZeneca vaccine, which is similar to the Johnson & Johnson version, has proved effective in the United Kingdom, which is struggling to control a rise in cases caused by the Delta variant.

"We should be concerned as Delta variant is more contagious and may be associated with a higher risk of hospitalization" than the original COVID-19 strain, said Will County Health Department epidemiologist Alpesh Patel.