The Delta variant and Berrien County

BERRIEN COUNTY, Mich. -- As of Wednesday, Berrien County remains to have zero cases reported of the COVID-19 Delta variant and health officials are not expecting a post-holiday surge of COVID-19 cases.

The Berrien County Health Department confirmed the county has yet to report a Delta variant case of COVID-19.

However, officials say that does not dismiss the possibility of the variant already being present within county lines.

Officials forecast that the county will avoid a boom in case counts following the Fourth of July weekend due to the high percentage of residents that have already been vaccinated.

“I don’t think we’re going to see that blip and we’re not at a point where the Delta variant has been detected in Berrien County. That doesn’t mean it’s not here. But if it is, it’s at low enough levels that we haven’t detected it,” said Nicki Britten, Berrien County Health Department Health Officer.

Officials also want to remind everyone that the Delta variant is more contagious than the original strain of COVID-19 and to remain aware of possible contraction of the virus.