COVID Experts Warn This Surprise is Still to Come
After a devastating couple of months in the COVID-19 pandemic, the United States seems to have turned a corner with the number of infections, hospitalizations, and deaths on the decline. However, according to top experts we are not out of the woods yet. In fact, over the next few months, things could go from bad to worse. Read on to find out why—and to ensure your health and the health of others, don't miss these Sure Signs You've Already Had Coronavirus.
The "Next Wave of Growth" May be From Variants, Warn Experts
On Monday, Andy Slavitt, the White House COVID-19 response team's senior adviser, revealed that the B.1.1.7 variant out of the United Kingdom could be responsible for another large surge of COVID cases, despite ongoing vaccinations.
"We should be assuming that the next wave of case growth, to the extent that we have it, is going to be with B117," Slavitt told MSNBC. "Unfortunately we can't predict the future and we know that this virus has been nothing but full of surprises for us since its come and I think there are more surprises to come. But I don't think we are anywhere close [to] out of the woods. I don't expect that we are going to be seeing just smooth sailing from here."
Michael Osterholm, director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, also predicted to CBS This Morning that the next few months could be a nightmare.
"The next 14 weeks I think will be the worst of the pandemic," he said. "People don't want to hear that, but if we look at what these variants are doing, particularly this one from the United Kingdom, and see what it did in Europe, see what it's done in the Middle East, it's now beginning to start that here in the U.S. We are going to see that unfold."
He added that this could complicate guidance released from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on school reopenings, encouraging the reopening of schools. He explained that the surge of new variants could result in quick closures.
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How to Stay Safe From These Variants
So follow Dr. Anthony Fauci's fundamentals and help end this surge, no matter where you live—wear a face mask, social distance, avoid large crowds, don't go indoors with people you're not sheltering with (especially in bars), practice good hand hygiene, get vaccinated when it becomes available to you, and to protect your life and the lives of others, don't visit any of these 35 Places You're Most Likely to Catch COVID.
