The United States may see a further increase in COVID-19 cases due to eased restrictions and a recent plateau in the number of cases, reports CNN.
Emergency doctor Dr. Leana Wen told CNN that a peak in COVID-19 seems likely because the recent drop in the number of cases has stopped falling – and the numbers have stabilized.
- “I think we are going to see an increase in the number of infections,” Wen told CNN.
Wen said the high number of vaccinations may help the issue, however.
- “I think what helps at the moment is that the most vulnerable – particularly residents of nursing homes, older people – are now vaccinated. And so we can prevent an increase in hospitalizations and deaths, ”she told CNN.
Is that what happened with Europe?
There are some doubts about whether the US will suffer the same fate as Europe, which saw a drop in cases and then a plateau before an increase.
Dr. Anthony Fauci said recently that Europe saw a plateau in the cases, which led to a sudden increase in that part of the world, as I wrote for Deseret News.
- “When you see a plateau at as high a level as 60,000 cases a day, this is a very vulnerable time to have a wave, to rise again. That’s exactly what happened in Europe, ”said Fauci, according to CNN.
Europe may not be a complete guide to what can happen in the United States. Dr. Scott Gottlieb told CNBC that the United States may be ahead of Europe in terms of vaccine distribution.
- “I don’t think the conditions in Europe and the situation in Europe are necessarily predictive of what’s going to happen here, because we have a lot more immunity in our population, both from previous infection – which they also have – but now also from vaccination,” he said .
What is the status of coronavirus in the USA now?
By Axios, the impact of the coronavirus is remaining stable as the vaccine’s launch continues. Getting back to normal seems quite possible now with the increase in vaccination. But following public health guidelines – wearing a mask, washing your hands and socializing – will make returning to normal much easier.
- “Containing the spread more forcefully in the meantime would help to minimize the threat posed by variants of the virus, which will likely continue to circulate for years, causing new outbreaks and in some cases requiring booster vaccines,” according to Axios. “But as long as Americans continue to be vaccinated in large numbers, the end of the pandemic, as we lived last year, is well within reach.”