The Lafayette County Health Department has announced lab confirmation from the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services of both Alpha (U.K.) and Delta (Indian) variants of COVID-19 are circulating in Lafayette County.

B.1.1.7-Alpha (UK) is labeled a variant of concern by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and has shown to be more contagious than the original virus.

B.1.617.2- Delta (Indian) is labeled a variant of concern by the CDC and seems to take a smaller viral load to infect, and is more transmissible than the original virus. With the Delta variant, there is a 64 percent increased risk of household transmission and it’s 40 percent more transmissible outdoors.

The three COVID-19 vaccines that are available in the United States are the best method of prevention and protection against the variants. The vaccines can help in lessening symptoms of COVID-19, reducing hospitalization and death.

Residents can get vaccinated at the Health Department from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays. There is no out-of-pocket cost.

The Lafayette County Health Department “would like to encourage all residents, regardless of vaccination status, to be vigilant about prevention measures like wearing a mask in public, washing hands frequently, staying home from work, church, summer school, daycare and everywhere else if you do not feel well; and to get tested sooner rather than later so close contacts can be notified.”