Public health officials weigh in on delta variant As the delta variant slowly gains more attention, many local officials are warning people to stay vigilant, especially if they are unvaccinated Share Updated: 8:10 PM EDT Jul 6, 2021 Public health officials weigh in on delta variant As the delta variant slowly gains more attention, many local officials are warning people to stay vigilant, especially if they are unvaccinated Share Updated: 8:10 PM EDT Jul 6, 2021 Hide Transcript Show Transcript 5:30 I'M ALICE KANG. AND I'M STEWART LEDBETTER UP TOP TONIGHT: WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT A NEW VARIANT OF COVID-19 WHICH NOW THREATENS UNVACCINATED PEOPLE. NBC5'S BRANDON MENARD... SPOKE WITH PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS ABOUT THE NEW VARIANT and it's impact in our region. TAKE SOT: (0:12) Linda Beers - Essex County Public Health Direct - A or variant is defined in a variety of ways. The Delta variant is a variantf o concern. The Delta variant is more contagious than other strains and it could lead to clusters of cases locay. ll ESSEX COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH DIRECTOR, LINDA BEERS, SAYS VARIANTS OF COVID-19 ARE NOT UNCOMMON. TAKE SOT: (0:10) This is an expected resu lt of variants the longer people are unvaccited na the more ability for a mutation of a virus. HEALTH OFFICIALS SAY THE PEOPLE AT THE MOST RISK TO CATCHING ANY VARIANT OTHE F CORONA VIRUS ARE THE ONES WHO HAVEN'T BEEN VACCINATED. WHILE THE VARIANT HASN'T BEEN REPORTED HERE, DOESN'T MEAN PEOPLE ARE SAFE. TAKE SOT: (PHONER) (0:16) (PHONER) Molly Flynn - Principal Public HealtEdh ucator, inClton County Health Department - We don't have any right now, but with vaanrits, like I said, anyone that's traveling could be bringing in this variant back, people who are visiting from out of town, if there are areas that have higher numbers of this variantit, 's not us right now, but it could be. EVEN WITH VACCINATION GOALS BEING REACHED E TH DOOR IS STILL OPEN OPEN FOR THE DELTA VARIANT TO INFECT PEOPLE . TAKE SOT: (PHONER) (0:) 11 That sti llleaves us with that 30% that are unvaccinated. So that's why it's so important for anyone who'sli egible to get vaccinated to do so to help protect those who cannot get vaccitenad. LOCAL HEALTH OFFICIALS SAY THE CURRENT VACCINES A RE PROVEN