9 things you need to know about the COVID-19 delta variant

ORLANDO, Fla. — A more contagious variant of the COVID-19 virus is outpacing the original virus in much of the world.

The delta variant — so named by the World Health Organization which has chosen to name coronavirus variants after Greek letters — has been identified by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as the dominant strain of COVID-19 in the United States.

READ: How do you know if you have the delta variant; what are the symptoms?

Here are 9 things you should know about the variant:

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COVID-19 delta variant The COVID-19 delta variant has been identified by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as the dominant strain of COVID-19 in the United States. (WFTV.com News Staff)

READ: COVID-19 hospitalizations near all-time high at AdventHealth, officials say

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Video: Central Florida sees rise in COVID-19 variant cases, hospitalizations Central Florida and the rest of the state continue to see cases of the COVID-19 delta variant rise at a fast pace. (WFTV)