By Leann Schenke

DOVER — While the delta variant, a mutation of COVID-19 with increased transmissibility, has been detected in Delaware, people who are fully vaccinated are protected against coronavirus and its variants, according to the Delaware Division of Public Health.

In a written statement, DPH medical director Dr. Rick Hong wrote that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention does not recommend an “extra or ‘booster’ dose for any COVID-19 vaccines (Pfizer, Moderna, Johnson & Johnson) at this time.”

He noted further review is taking place “regarding benefits for booster doses.”

According to the CDC, the delta variant was first detected in India and is more transmissible than the novel strand of the coronavirus.

However, Dr. Hong wrote the risk of COVID-19 is minimal for fully vaccinated people. The risk of transmission from fully vaccinated people to unvaccinated people also is reduced through any COVID-19 vaccine.

“Fully vaccinated people can resume activities without wearing a mask or physically distancing,” he wrote in a statement. “The CDC does not provide differing guidance for mask use or other prevention measures for different vaccines.”

Dr. Hong wrote prevention measures for COVID-19 continue to be mask wearing and maintaining six feet of social distance from those outside of a household who are unvaccinated.

More than 1 million COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered in the state as of Saturday, DPH reports.

Those age 65 and older continue to be the most vaccinated, DPH reports, with 160,564 people in that age group vaccinated, about 92.2%.

It’s been a week since the last COVID-19 related death in the state — DPH reports 1,695 people have passed away due to the virus.

Overall, hospitalizations due to COVID-19 increased in the state by 10, bringing the total number of those hospitalized to 38. There was an increase of 11 people hospitalized in New Castle County Saturday, however Kent County saw one fewer person hospitalized and Sussex saw no change in hospitalization amounts.

The state’s COVID-19 hospitalization amount on Saturday was its highest since late June, when it peaked at 39 on June 30. Hospitalizations have generally remained in the mid-20s and low-30s in the last week of June and first week of July.