Delta variant fundamentals: The Delta variant now accounts for more than more than 90% of new infections, according to the CDC. Delta is also believed to be the most transmissible strain of COVID-19 yet.

• CDC mapping shows the Delta variant was preceded by Alpha (B.1.1.7) that was first detected in the U.S. in December 2020. Beta followed (B.1.351) in January. Gamma (P.1) also was found in the U.S. in January. Delta (B.1.617.2) was identified in the U.S. in March 2021.
  
  
• "The Delta variant isn't just one kind of COVID, it's actually a group of strains that have some common features," said Mary Rodgers, principal scientist and member of the Abbott Pandemic Defense Coalition. "Some mutations of the Delta variant are found in other strains as well, but it's the combination that is unique."
  
  
• A recent study backs Rodgers' assessment. It found that, "After months of data collection, scientists agree: The delta variant is the most contagious version of the coronavirus worldwide. It spreads about two to three times faster than the original version of the virus, and it's currently dominating the outbreak in the United States."
  
  
• While doctors treating the recent resurgence of COVID infections have noted those impacted by the Delta variant tend to be "younger, sicker, quicker," infection rates also are impacted by choices such as not wearing masks nor social distancing, as well as lower vaccination rates in hardest-hit areas.
  
  
• "Delta is clearly linked to having the ability to escape from immune responses, having increased transmissibility, and can infect vaccinated people and spread more easily," Rodgers said. "Individual changes to the virus are coming faster than expected due to increased numbers of infection, giving the virus more chances to mutate."
  
  
• Still more research is needed. "Some variations allow the virus to spread more easily or make it resistant to treatments or vaccines," the CDC reported. "Those variants must be monitored more carefully."

Still good advice: As much as the virus has evolved since the pandemic started, general guidance for staying safe has remained the same.

• Now that vaccines are widely available in the U.S., the CDC recommends those who are eligible should get vaccinated as soon as possible.
  
  
• Wear a mask that covers your nose and mouth if you are unvaccinated or if you are vaccinated and in an area of substantial or high transmission.
  
  
• Wash your hands often.

Protecting yourself: Vaccination doesn't make it impossible for a person to contract COVID-19.

• "While people who have been vaccinated are much less likely to get sick, it will still happen in some cases," according to the CDC. "It's possible that some fully vaccinated people might have infections, but not have symptoms." Still, vaccines "help protect people who are vaccinated from getting COVID-19 or getting severely ill from COVID-19."
  
  
• The best way to know for sure whether you have COVID is through testing.
  
  
• "Vulnerable populations now have the power to test themselves like never before," Rodgers said, who continues to test her children as they await eligibility for the vaccine. "Having the ability to test at home, in 15 minutes, has helped my family navigate the pandemic with added confidence."
  
  
• You can test yourself with BinaxNOW rapid antigen testing, which has been shown through sequence analysis and lab testing to detect multiple strains of COVID-19, including the Delta variant.
  
  
• "We design our tests with viral evolution in mind. They target a part of the virus that's less likely to change, and we continuously monitor new sequences to ensure that our tests detect new variants," Rodgers said. "We anticipated that variants would arise, and we've been tracking them since the very beginning."
  
  
• Our work with partners continues. "Our Abbott Pandemic Defense Coalition is monitoring COVID around the globe to identify and analyze whether any strains on their continent are evolving," Rodgers said.

Next steps: It's within your power to keep you and your family safe. Testing is a key component of any plan when dealing with COVID-19.

• More information on COVID testing options is available here.
  
  
• Purchase BinaxNOW Self Tests from the Abbott Store, Amazon, CVS, Walgreens or Walmart.

This story was originally published on August 19, 2021 and updated on June 15, 2022.