[blueash]

I will try to explain the viral load controversy. When the delta variant finds you it enters your upper airway where it causes your body to make millions of copies of itself. These millions of new copies of the delta variant are shed into the moisture in the nose and throat and expelled with coughing, sneezing, singing, talking, and breathing.

A higher density of viruses in the shed material, the more likely they will find a new victim. This is why looking a "viral load" is done. It is like considering whether a gun that shots one bullet at a time is as dangerous as one that can shoot many in a short period. Delta is a machine gun, lots of bullets get fired.

The next important thing is that delta seems more successful at establishing itself in your airway. The combination of many more viruses being shed and it being an efficient infectious agent make delta much more contagious. The Delta virus gives 1000 times the number of viruses as previous strains.

Think about what happened when delta finds you. If you are vaccinated or unvaccinated it rapidly begins replicating and being shed. You are contagious regardless of your immune status. If you have antibodies, those antibodies and other immune functions will prevent the virus from making you significantly clinically ill in almost all cases. You may have no symptoms while the delta virus and your immune system battle it out, or you may have some symptoms.

While the virus is replicating [making lots of new virus particles] it may make exact copies or there may be a new variant appear. The more viral replications, the higher the chance of new mutations. In an immune person the period of time the virus is replicating is shorter, much shorter, than a non-immune person.

The new statement from the CDC reflects the new information on the behavior of the delta virus. Immunized people can be shedders for a period to the same degree as not-immunized people. Thus the recommendation for masks which as you have all been told over and over, do only a little. but not nothing, to protect the wearer and really are meant to protect others from the virus you may be unaware you are shedding.

No one, at least no responsible person who understands Covid, has said that vaccination does not make a difference. It saves lives and reduces morbidity. What it does not do well is prevent colonization with delta virus and shedding.

Thus the recommendation now, always subject to change as new data emerges, is get your shots, both doses to protect yourself from serious or fatal disease. And wear a mask especially indoors to protect others as you may be shedding delta virus even though you feel fine. Wear a mask means cover your nose and your mouth, not just your chin.