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Review
. 2022 Jun;36(2):267-293.
doi: 10.1016/j.idc.2022.01.007. Epub 2022 Feb 1.

SARS-CoV-2 Transmission and Prevention in the Era of the Delta Variant

Eric A Meyerowitz  1 , Aaron Richterman  2
Affiliations
Review

SARS-CoV-2 Transmission and Prevention in the Era of the Delta Variant

Eric A Meyerowitz et al. Infect Dis Clin North Am. 2022 Jun.

Abstract

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) delta variant transmits much more rapidly than prior SARS-CoV-2 viruses. The primary mode of transmission is via short range aerosols that are emitted from the respiratory tract of an index case. There is marked heterogeneity in the spread of this virus, with 10% to 20% of index cases contributing to 80% of secondary cases, while most index cases have no subsequent transmissions. Vaccination, ventilation, masking, eye protection, and rapid case identification with contact tracing and isolation can all decrease the transmission of this virus.

Keywords: Aerosol; COVID-19; Delta; Overdispersion; SARS-CoV-2; Superspreading; Transmission; Vaccination.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Virologic characteristics of a transmission.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Example of proportion of secondary cases from SARS-CoV-2 index cases.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Chains and clustering of SARS-CoV-2 transmission.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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Supplementary concepts