9 Lambda variant COVID-19 cases reported in Arkansas

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https://www.wftv.com/news/trending/coronavirus-arkansas-reports-9-lambda-variant-cases/IGAKZSVFZJHFJKUCSUIAJFVE4I/
By Bob D'Angelo, Cox Media Group National Content Desk


LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Nine cases of the lambda variant of COVID-19 have been reported, state health officials said Friday.

However, state officials said Thursday they were more concerned with the delta variant of the coronavirus.

“We have enough to be concerned about with the delta variant,” Gov. Asa Hutchinson told reporters.

José Romero, the state’s secretary of health, agreed with Hutchinson, KATV reported.

“The Lambda variant has been identified here in the state. We are tracking to see if we are seeing more isolations of that particular variant,” Romero said at a news conference. “I don’t think we need to be concerned about it at this time.”

As of Thursday, 118 of the state’s 262 school districts have a mask policy, according to KAIT. Eighty-seven do not have mandates and 57 have taken no formal action, the television station reported.

The most recent lambda case was reported on Aug. 2, according to KARK.

“I suspect there are likely symptoms because the delta variant is so much more infectious than the lambda variant,” Jennifer Dillaha, the state health department’s chief medical officer, told reporters. “People who get the delta variant, their viral lobe, respiratory track is about a thousand times higher than the other variants that have previously circulated.”

Roughly 51% of Americans are currently fully vaccinated against coronavirus, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s COVID Data Tracker.