Don't miss the big stories. Like us on Facebook. While Vermont enjoys an 80 percent vaccination rate and very few cases of COVID-19 compared to earlier this year, the Delta variant, known also as B1.617.2, which was first identified in India, is showing up all over Europe. For instance, 59.5 percent of eligible people in the United Kingdom are vaccinated; and yet, cases of COVID are on the rise. More than 90 percent of them are caused by the Delta strain. The alarm is so significant as to cause a delay in reopening until at least July 19. The Delta strain accounts for more than 20 percent of cases in the United States. It is moving fast, especially among communities with low vaccination rates. The number was just 10 percent 2 weeks ago. We should be viewing this very seriously.