CDC warns of 'rapid,' 'troubling' rise of Delta variant
Walensky added that cases of COVID-19 are surging in counties representing 9 million people, and that the U.S. is seeing outbreaks of COVID-19 at summer camps and other community events.
Nearly all deaths and hospitalizations nationwide are among unvaccinated people, said Jeff Zients, who leads the White House's COVID-19 response team.
He said the spread of the Delta variant is particularly dangerous to young people. Research suggests it may cause more severe disease among younger people than other variants of the coronavirus.
The CDC earlier this week said that the Delta variant of COVID-19 has already become the dominant strain in the United States. The variant, which is highly contagious, has also become dominant in other countries around the world.
The White House plans to concentrate federal assistance for vaccinating against and treating COVID-19 in states including Arkansas, Missouri, Nevada and Illinois, Zients said, adding that the Biden administration is also working to make COVID-19 vaccines available at doctors' offices around the country.
