Houston-area COVID-19 outbreak, delta variant cases should be a wake-up call for Texans, health expert warns By COLLEEN DEGUZMAN and The Texas Tribune Published article Medical workers fill syringes with vaccines for COVID-19 at the Delco Activity Center in Austin. Credit: Sergio Flores for The Texas Tribune HOUSTON - The original headline to this story has been shortened for length. The new and highly contagious delta variant of the coronavirus may have sparked the recent outbreak of 125-plus cases of COVID-19 linked to a Houston-area youth church camp, and a Texas virologist says the breakout should be a wake-up call for communities.