**Delta variant sparks new COVID-19 epicenter in Missouri**
* Greene County has become a hotspot for the Delta variant, with cases and hospitalizations surging
* The county’s health department is urging residents to get vaccinated and take precautions
* The Delta variant is more contagious than previous strains and can cause more severe illness
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (KY3) – Greene County is now an epicenter for the Delta variant of COVID-19. Springfield-Greene County Health Department Director Clay Goddard said the county has the highest per-capita rate of new COVID-19 cases in the state. The county also has the highest number of COVID-19 hospitalizations in the state. More than 100 people are currently hospitalized with COVID-19 in Greene County.
The Delta variant is more contagious than previous strains of the virus, and it can cause more severe illness. Goddard said the variant is spreading quickly through the community, and he is urging residents to get vaccinated and take precautions to protect themselves from the virus.
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