“We have a little breathing space now, but if these new variants become dominant in our country, we will be back to where we were in November and December and maybe even worse,” emergency doctor Dr. Megan Ranney told CNN .
“The increase that is likely to occur with this new variant from England is going to happen in the next six to 14 weeks and if we see it happen … we will see something we haven’t seen in this country yet,” Dr. Michael Osterholm, director of the Research Center and University of Minnesota Infectious Disease Policy, he told NBC on Sunday.
“Despite the declining numbers, now is not the time to take basic precautions,” warned Ranney on Sunday. “Wear a mask, avoid indoor meetings without a mask and, of course, wash your hands and try to keep your distance from others when possible.”
Specialist asks for vaccine strategy change
“We still want to receive two doses in all, but I think that now, before this increase, we need to take as much of a dose in as many people over 65 as possible to reduce serious illnesses and deaths that will occur in the coming weeks,” he said. he to NBC.
Taking more first doses now does not mean giving up a second dose, said Ranney.
The problems that states are facing
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear told CNN on Sunday, “If we have three problems, it’s supply, supply and supply.”
Although the state has the capacity to deliver 250,000 first doses a week, Beshear said, they are scheduled to receive only about 64,000 doses – a deficiency that he said other states are also experiencing.
“The only thing that keeps us from defeating this virus next month is the amount of supplies we receive.”
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio highlighted preliminary data on Sunday, showing a clear racial disparity among New Yorkers who have so far received doses of the vaccine.
“Clearly what we see is a particularly pronounced reality for many more people in white communities receiving vaccines than people in black and Latin communities,” said de Blasio.
In response, the city has expanded its list of neighborhoods most affected by the virus and will increase reach, prioritize appointments and add new vaccination sites in these areas, among other efforts, said the mayor.
The disparity, de Blasio said, needs to be “dealt with aggressively and creatively.”
CDC issues guidance on the Super Bowl
The short version: have fun with the game only with people in your home and have other guests participate virtually.
For Americans who choose to attend major Super Bowl events, such as attending parties, the agency offered a number of recommendations, including calling the venue in advance to ensure they take security measures, follow social distance guidelines, avoid cheering, use touchless payment methods and maintain a mask. in all moments.
CNN’s Maggie Fox, Ganesh Setty and Naomi Thomas contributed to this report.