Epidemiology Research

The purpose of the study was focused on what the spread of COVID variants let us know about the spread of the Delta variant and how we can apply this information onto future variants. Throughout the research, we plotted data from a COVID lab at FSU and modeled the cumulative findings of the alpha and delta variants. We also used Contactome to view how unique contacts play a key role in the kinetics of COVID-19. In the plot, it can be discerned that the alpha variant became the dominant strain specifically in April 2021 to June 2021. However, as the delta variant begins to rise exponentially during June 2021, and with the Alpha variant slowing in its rise, its inferred that the Delta variant will quickly become the new dominant strain. The sharp increase in cumulative occurrences observed in the delta variant can be credited to its greater R0. In conclusion, the emergence of the delta variant has been the most dangerous variant yet due to its increase in transmissibility. Furthermore, without any measures to slow the spread of delta, it will quickly become very difficult to manage. It is important to note that with universities reopening, we may see a sharp increase in cases because of the large number of unique contacts every student has. We expect delta to become the dominant variant in the next few months because it not only is following trends set by alpha, but is also following it at a much faster rate.