t’s been a year and a day since active COVID-19 cases have been as low as they were Friday, but a new threat has popped up with the Delta variant. The growing threat from the variant comes just as the state’s numbers have started to look good. Active cases dropped below 1,000 on Friday. So far, 18 variant cases have been confirmed statewide, but health officials say there could be more because testing for the variant isn’t widespread. “In some states like Missouri, which is starting to see another surge, the Delta variant makes up about 96% of the cases,” according to coronavirus czar Dr. Clay Marsh. The vaccine does protect against the variant.