The US CDC just warned the Delta virus is as contagious as chickenpox.
Worse, according to CNBC, it has a longer transmission window, and could make older people sicker—even if they’ve been vaccinated.
“Delta, now in at least 132 countries and already the dominant form of the disease in the United States, is more transmissible than the common cold, the 1918 Spanish flu, smallpox, Ebola, MERS and SARS, according to the document. Only measles appears to spread faster than the variant,” added CNBC.
With that, President Biden just unveiled his plan to get more folks vaccinated, including a payment of $100 to those getting the shot for the first time. The payments would be offered to newly vaccinated Americans to provide “an extra incentive to boost vaccination rates, protect communities, and save lives,” the Treasury Department said, as quoted by The Hill.
That news could send shares of vaccine stocks, like Pfizer (PFE), BioNTech (BNTX), Moderna (MRNA) and Gilead Sciences even higher. In addition, the US CDC is again recommending the use of masks indoors, which has fueled upside for stocks, such as Alpha Pro Tech (APT).
We’re also seeing a big return of testing for businesses and schools.
Los Angeles schools, for example, are now mandating weekly testing for students and teachers when in-person instruction resumes. “All students and employees, both vaccinated and unvaccinated, returning for in-person instruction must participate in baseline and ongoing weekly COVID testing. This is in accordance with the most recent guidance from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, as quoted by CBS News.
That being the case, keep an eye on testing stocks, such as Quest Diagnostics (DGX) and Quidel Corporation (QDEL). Until the pandemic is brought under control, these are just some of the stocks that could benefit.