After several months of devastating waves of COVID-19, in recent weeks, the number of infections, hospitalizations and deaths has started to fall. However, it is not yet time to celebrate the end of the pandemic. Health experts predicted that new, more communicable variants could result in another increase in cases. And at the White House COVID-19 Response Team briefing on Friday, Dr. Rochelle Walensky, Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), revealed that this is probably already happening and issued a strong warning. Keep reading to find out what she has to say – and to ensure your health and the health of others, don’t miss out on these Clear signs that you have had the coronavirus.
She began by acknowledging the decline in cases and hospitalizations in the past month or more, with deaths declining in the past week. However, she revealed that the trend is starting to change. “The most recent data suggest that these declines may be stalling, potentially stabilizing at an even very high number,” she said, adding that the CDC considers this “a very worrying change in trajectory”.
“The average of the most recent seven-day cases, approximately 66,350, is higher than the average I shared with you on Wednesday,” she continued. “In fact, cases have increased in the past three days compared to the previous week. And while deaths tend to fluctuate more than cases and hospital admissions, the most recent seven-day average, approximately 2,000 a day, is slightly higher than the seven-day average at the beginning of the week. ”
Dr. Walensky said the CDC is “watching” this data “closely to see where it will go in the next few days”, but stressed that it is an “important” reminder “to remember where we are in the pandemic. “
“Things are tenuous. Now is not the time to relax restrictions, ”she said. “Although we have experienced large drops in admissions cases in the past six weeks, these drops follow the highest peak we experienced in the pandemic. So, I want to be clear: Cases, hospitalizations and deaths are still very high. And the recent change in the pandemic must be taken extremely seriously. “
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In addition, the latest variants are an additional concern. “The CDC has sounded the alarm about the continued spread of variants in the United States, predicting variants like the B117 variant, which is thought to be around 40%, 50% more transmissible” would become the predominant variant of the COVID-19 in the middle March. “We may now be seeing the initial effects of these variants on the most recent data. Our estimates now indicate that B117 is responsible for approximately 10% of cases in the United States, from one to 4%, a few weeks ago, and the prevalence is even higher in certain areas of the country. “
With the addition of new variants identified in California and New York, everyone needs to do their part to end the pandemic. “We can end the virus, but of course the virus did not end with us,” he warned. “We cannot be comfortable or give in to the false sense of security that the worst of the pandemic is over. Not now, not when mass vaccination is so close, when what we need to prevent, is really imminent. We must remain vigilant and committed to consistently taking the steps we work to prevent the spread of COVID-19. ”
“Where the pandemic goes from here depends on our collective behavior and the resolve to do our part, to protect ourselves, our families and our communities. Together, we have the ability to prevent another increase in our mainstream, ”she continued. “I know that people are tired. They want to return to normal life, but we are not there yet. Give us the time we need to get more vaccines in our communities and to get more people vaccinated. This is our way. Here in the United States, more than 46 million people or 14% of the population have already received at least one dose of the vaccine. And many more of you are ready to roll up your sleeves as soon as the vaccine is available to you. And, in fact, more vaccines are on the way. ”
So, follow the CDC fundamentals and help end this pandemic, no matter where you live – use a face mask that fits perfectly and has two layers, don’t travel, get away socially, avoid large crowds, don’t go into the house with people you’re not sheltering (especially in bars), practice good hand hygiene, be vaccinated when available for you, and to protect your life and the lives of others, do not visit any of these 35 places you’re most likely to reach COVID.