Jul 16 - As hopeful as we all have been that the impact of the COVID-19 virus is behind us, you’ve likely seen the news that the number of cases of the virus, fueled by the Delta variant, is increasing, especially in places where vaccination rates are low.
As hopeful as we all have been that the impact of the COVID-19 virus is behind us, you’ve likely seen the news that the number of cases of the virus, fueled by the Delta variant, is increasing, especially in places where vaccination rates are low. The high rate of transmissibility of this variant not only makes this the dominant strain but also the greatest threat to our recovery as a nation and an airline.
The spread of this highly contagious variant among the unvaccinated could pose a new public health threat. While occurrences of the Delta variant are now mostly in those who are younger, adults who are unvaccinated assume the risk of a more severe illness. In fact, those who are unvaccinated represent the largest increase in hospitalization and instances of death in recent weeks.
This news, while somber, is offset by the brighter news that the vaccines are effective against this variant. Health officials remain persistent in their message: It’s more important than ever to get vaccinated.
Recent initiatives to incentivize Flight Attendants to obtain the vaccine have been well received with 75% of us having uploaded our vaccination cards via the Flying Together website. Efforts continue to be focused on precautions; wearing masks, social distancing and consistent, proper hand hygiene are among the simplest and most straight-forward ways that all of us can work to help end the spread of the COVID-19 virus and this new variant.
