One of the most prominent in the nation coronavirus experts, Dr. Michael T. Osterholm, appeared on NBC’s Meet the press Sunday morning with a bucket of cold water to pour on anyone who thinks the worst of the virus is over. “Let me just say that we are at the center of the hurricane right now,” said Osterholm to receive Chuck Todd. He said that increasing and more communicable variations and recent spikes in Europe are a cause for concern, not a relaxation of restrictions. Read more about your warning – and to ensure your health and the health of others, don’t miss out on these Clear signs that you have had the coronavirus.
“Let me just say that we are at the center of the hurricane now,” said Osterholm. “It looks like things are going very well.” You can “see blue skies,” he said. “We have been through a terrible, terrible year, but what we know is about to come over us is this situation with this variant of the virus that originated in the United Kingdom, which today is wreaking havoc in parts of Europe – 27 countries have seen significant cases with this really reaching strong. Many of these countries have been blocked for two months, just to try to control the virus. “Recently, variants accounted for” 4% of the viruses we saw in communities across the country. Today it is 30 to 40%. And when we see in Europe, when we reach the 50% mark, you will see an increase in cases. So now we have to keep America as safe as possible against this virus, by not giving up any of the public health measures we take. And we need to vaccinate people as soon as possible. “
Dr. Osterholm congratulated the Biden administration for its vaccination effort, but said “we also have to tell the story of what is still ahead of us. And with 2.9 to 3 million doses of vaccine a day for the next six to 14 weeks – when that increase is likely to happen – it won’t really take care of the problem now. More than half of our elderly people in this country have not been vaccinated or have just started their first dose. This means that, where 80% of deaths normally occur, which is in this age group, they are highly vulnerable in the next four to six weeks. I have to say that I am very grateful to have vaccinated 1.4 million people in long-term care facilities, but we still have a lot of high-risk people out there that, when this increase occurs, basically they are going to be highly vulnerable. “
“The other thing we see now is that every governor wants to open schools,” said Osterholm. “And I understand that, as a grandfather, I have five children, I have grandchildren, I understand. But the problem is that, if you look at Europe now, the challenge we are seeing is a lot of transmission in schools with this new variant. In my home state of Minnesota, we just announced on Friday, an outbreak of more than 68 people in community sports in high school. Therefore, we will have some difficult days ahead in the older population and in the younger population with this new variant virus. “
Dr. Anthony Fauci, the president’s chief medical advisor and the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said the CDC will soon issue guidelines on what equally vaccinated people can and cannot do. Until then: “We have to recognize that, what is the audience likely to do with any guidance we give them?” said Osterholm. “If we simply tell people that they need to be encased, that they need to stay in their homes, that they need to continue wearing the mask, even though they are fully vaccinated, they will not do that. They will disregard the public health recommendation. So we have to get real. We have to say, you know, what, what does it mean if I didn’t see my grandchildren last year? And now I’m vaccinated, my spouse is vaccinated. You know, I can see that these children are not, they are not as if they had a vaccine until next fall or next winter, we have to be practical … So, what can we provide them with reasonable information that gives them the best protection case themselves. Like, you know what? You wouldn’t pick me up tonight at a crowded restaurant somewhere, even with a vaccination. I think that’s what we should be focusing on and letting them do the kind of things that are actually a lot safer. “
Follow Fauci’s fundamentals and help end this pandemic, no matter where you live – use a face mask that adapts perfectly and has two layers, do not travel, get away socially, avoid large crowds, do not enter home with people you are 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.