Even though the Delta variant hasn't hit the New York area hard, one Long Island doctor is warning that it needs to be taken seriously.

"The Delta variant is really scary," says Dr. Bruce Hirsch, an infectious disease specialist at Northwell Health.

Hirsch says he's concerned because those who aren't protected can contract it easily.

"The fact that it's so much more transmissible than the Alpha variant -- that we thought was so much more transmissible than the other COVID that we were dealing with in the beginning is very worrisome," says Hirsch.

While the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says the U.S. has seen a 10% increase in the variant over the last week, it has yet to really make its mark here.

Myrtell and Tyrell Reid say they are still taking precautions. They both still wear masks and sanitize just to be safe.

"We are going to get vaccinated eventually, but I know it is a cause for concern for a lot of people," says Myrtell.

Hirsch says there are some differences with the Delta variant. He says loss of smell doesn't appear to be a symptom and there are fewer GI issues. Hirsch says extreme fatigue is a very common symptom with the variant.