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ODH’s Dr. Vanderhoff: ‘Delta is here and delta is rising rapidly’

By Jess Hardin
Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff, chief medical officer at the Ohio Department of Health, during a state coronavirus update on Wednesday, July 14, 2021.
Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff, chief medical officer at the Ohio Department of Health, during a state coronavirus update on Wednesday, July 14, 2021.

COLUMBUS — From May to June, delta variant infections have exploded in Ohio, state Department of Health Chief Medical Officer Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff said Wednesday.

The delta variant accounted for less than 1 percent of infections between May 9 and May 22. During the last two-week period with complete data, June 6 to June 19, the delta variant accounted for 15 percent of COVID-19 infections in the state.

Emerging data for June 20 to July 3 shows the proportion likely more than doubled, said Vanderhoff.

"Delta is here and delta is rising rapidly," he said.

After seeing consistently declining cases in Ohio, the state reported a small uptick in COVID-19 cases.

"We now have two Ohios," said Vanderhoff. "Ohio that is vaccinated and protected ... and Ohio that is unvaccinated and vulnerable to delta."

This story was originally published July 14, 2021 at 11:09 AM with the headline "ODH’s Dr. Vanderhoff: ‘Delta is here and delta is rising rapidly’."