COLUMBUS, Ohio — The number of COVID-19 Delta variant cases is on the rise in Ohio. As cases increase, state health officials are stepping up their push to get more Ohioans vaccinated.
Ohio Department of Health Chief Medical Officer Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff said the latest statistics show the more contagious COVID-19 Delta variant represents 15% of the state's positive coronavirus cases.
To put that in perspective, that number was below 1% in the beginning of May.
"The Delta variant is in fact rapidly increasing and is on a trajectory to become the dominant strain in Ohio," said Vanderhoff.
Vanderhoff said when the next set of numbers are released, that number is expected to double to 30%. Vanderhoff said the reasoning for the rise in the Delta variant is still unclear but one thing is.
"Delta is a real threat to the unvaccinated," Vanderhoff said.
"We hope that that rise will peak and come down but we don't know that yet," said Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center's Chief Clinical Officer Dr. Andrew Thomas.
Thomas said there is good news, though. Despite less than half the state being vaccinated, those most at risk should be safe from the Delta variant.
"If you look at those over age 60, we're well over 70% and those over age 65 we're over 80% of those patients being vaccinated," Thomas said.
So far, health leaders said the Delta variant has not caused a major spike in hospitalizations. Vanderhoff and Thomas agree anyone who is fully vaccinated is unlikely to get or spread the Delta variant and does not need to change their behavior.
However, they said those that have not gotten their shots should still wear masks and socially distance.
When asked if he believes vaccinations will go up as a result of officials sounding the alarm, Vanderhoff replied, "If even one person makes the decision to protect themselves and others through the vaccination, we have been successful."