Adrianna Rodriguez, USA TODAY
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has had a busy week.
Only a few days after announcing updated mask guidelines, the agency on Friday released new scientific data on the delta variant that gives a snapshot of how the highly contagious strain triggered a wave of coronavirus cases.
The much-anticipated report comes a day after a presentation compiled by a doctor with the agency was leaked to the media and detailed the dangers of the delta variant and how mask-wearing is essential to bring it under control.
In a briefing Tuesday, CDC director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said the new data spurred the agency to take immediate action by recommending fully vaccinated people to wear mask indoors in public settings where coronavirus transmission is high.
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People who test positive for COVID-19 aren’t made aware if they were infected by the delta variant, even if their sample was sequenced.
"Our patients will not learn if they have a variant or not," said Dr. Christina Wojewoda, chair of College of American Pathologists Microbiology Committee. "It is for epidemiology purposes only and currently, there is no medical use for that result."
However, the CDC said more than 80% of sequenced samples have the delta variant, which means people sick with COVID-19 were most likely infected with the highly contagious strain.
“It is safe to assume in most places, if you are infected now, it is likely delta," Wojewoda said.