About Delta variant of COVID-19

What are the symptoms of the Delta variant?

With the Delta variant, COVID-19 symptoms seem to present at first more like a cold with a runny nose, sore throat and other upper respiratory infection symptoms. Many who contracted the original COVID-19 virus likened it to a bad case of influenza with fever, loss of smell, persistent cough and shortness of breath.

What's different about the Delta variant?

Delta is believed to be the most transmissible variant yet. It may also be able to partially evade the antibodies made by the immune system after a coronavirus infection or vaccination. Delta may cause more severe illness, although more research is needed.

Does the vaccine prevent the Delta variant?

The vaccines are effective against the delta variant, and though it's still possible to get infected, the vaccines dramatically reduce the risk of serious illness that leads to hospitalization or death.

Ontario’s top public health official says that the more transmissible Delta variant will continue to threaten the progress that the province has made until about 90 per cent of eligible residents have been fully vaccinated.

The Doug Ford government has said that the final step of its reopening plan lifting virtually all remaining public health restrictions can’t begin until at least 80 per cent of those 12 and older have been partially vaccinated and 75 per cent have been fully vaccinated.