I was at Brick Summerfest a few days ago saying how amazing it was to be back in the community and it really is! People were dancing and listeners came up to give me hugs and it felt...well...human. I had this feeling that COVID was finally behind us but then I found out that two people I was talking to that night came down with the COVID variant.

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I'm fully vaccinated and I know many of the folks at the event were keeping most of us safe. For all I know, the two people I'm referring to above were not vaccinated at all.  I don't know because I didn't ask, but what I'm realizing is, wishful thinking is not necessarily the reality. I want COVID to be a non-factor but this Delta variant is getting traction especially in New Jersey.

Of course our numbers are down overall, but among new COVID cases, the Delta variant is taking over. Also, the symptoms are SO different with the Delta version that it can be really hard to diagnose.  So, I wanted to post about what symptoms to look out for with Delta, some of these will surprise you:

1.  This symptom is crazy!  With the original COVID-19, people were losing their sense of smell and taste but with the variant it looks like hearing loss is a side effect.

Photo credit Mark Paton Unsplash
Photo credit Mark Paton Unsplash
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2.  Stomach pain, cramping and vomiting have been reported

Photo by Mark Paton on Unsplash
Photo credit: Mark Paton Unsplash
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3.  Overall nausea has been an issue

Photo by Kyle Glenn on Unsplash
Photo credit:  Kyle Glenn
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4. Strong Joint Pain

Photo by Keenan Constance on Unsplash
Photo credit: Keenan Constance on Unsplash
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5.  Loss of appetite

Photo by Tamas Pap on Unsplash
Photo by Tamas Pap Unsplash
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6.  Small blood clots have been reported

Photo by FLY:D on Unsplash
Photo credit: Fly D Unsplash
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7.  Excessive Diarrhea

Photo by Jasmin Sessler on Unsplash
Photo credit: Jasmin Sessler
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8.  Lasting Anxiety

Photo by Zachary Kadolph on Unsplash
Photo credit: Zachary Kadolph
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This version seems more serious in that most of the patients with the variant are more likely to have to go to the hospital to get treated. They are also more likely to need to go on oxygen.

OK,  are you ready for some good news?  Experts say that our existing COVID vaccine does provide protection against the Delta variant.  The spread is happening mostly in the unvaccinated.

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