Posted on 03/16/2021 5:27:59 PM PDT by lightman
The U.S. has seen some progress in its battle against COVID-19, but experts are worried some Americans are easing up on restrictions too early.
A report by CNN Health reveals that experts fear this is a critical time. There are looming dangers and rising cases of a dangerous variant, which are threatening to wipe out the progress the country has made thus far.
Despite the fact that cases of a dangerous variant are on the rise, this month at least a dozen state leaders have eased COVID-19 restrictions, citing the increase in vaccination numbers as well as “improving COVID-19 trends.”
Added to that is the increase in air travel, which is reaching “pandemic-era records.” CNN noted that the Transportation Security Administration reported screening “more than 1.3 million people at airports Sunday -- meaning about 5.2 million travelers flew since Thursday,” marking the highest number to have flown during any four-day period since the pandemic began.
The report said Florida and other sunny regions are seeing the first spring break crowds, with some Miami Beach officials reporting packed shores, “swelling crowds and precautions going out the window.”
It’s a combination of all these factors.
Officials fear that the combination of all these factors could set the stage “for another spike.”
CNN cited Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky, who said Monday: “We have seen footage of people enjoying spring break festivities, maskless.” She added, “This is all in the context of still 50,000 cases per day.”
Is another surge inevitable?
CNN cited emergency physician Dr. Leana Wen, who told them on Monday: “We could go in either direction.” She added, “What happens now is really up to us and whether we keep up masking and avoiding indoor gatherings as we should be until the point that we’re vaccinated.”
A dangerous variant is expected to be dominant soon.
Practicing safety measures is especially crucial in light of the fact that multiple virus variants are currently circulating. This includes the highly contagious variant first detected in the U.K. Walensky said Monday about the new variant, it “is projected to become the dominant variant in the U.S. by the end of this month or early April,” CNN cited. The report noted that CDC data indicates it has been found, so far, in 48 states, Puerto Rico and Washington, DC.
CNN cited Dr. Richard Besser, the former acting CDC Director, who told them on Monday: “The way the variants spread is by letting our guard down,” he added, “By not wearing masks, by not social distancing.”
Besser continued, “If we can hang in there for a few more months, there will be enough vaccine for every adult in America to be vaccinated.”
“Then we can truly let go of some of the restrictions that are in place. But if we do this too quickly, we could see an increase in cases, we could see a backslide that is occurring in many European countries and that does not have to be the outcome here in America,” he added.
The variant is associated with a higher risk of death, research suggests.
Research published last week suggested that “the variant was associated with an estimated 64% higher risk of dying” from COVID-19, CNN said.
Coming in at a bit lower estimate was another peer-reviewed study, a paper accepted by the journal Nature, linking the variant to a higher risk of death, but “this time, the risk of death from the variant was estimated around 55% higher than earlier strains after adjusting for a number of factors like age, sex, and where and when tests were conducted.”
However, CNN noted that a “subsequent analysis in the study that accounted for missing and potentially miscategorized test results found the overall increased risk of death may be somewhat higher -- around 61% more than earlier strains.” Vaccination was not able to be factored in the study, CNN said, nor could it show “why the variant might be more deadly than earlier strains.”
Covid Concern Posse is Deeply Concerned.
Good for you. I’m happy for you and the family.
That sounds like a great thing to do.
Exactly. Fock u communist motherfockas s
Wenatchee has a short time to cancel Apple Blossom Festival.
Fear porn!
Philippines just shut its borders and shut international travel once again until April 20. Manila just went into partial lockdown.
Note, these lockdowns are strict, not like the US ones, military and police checkpoints, travel and quarantine passes and nightly curfews.
I’m eating a $2000 mortgage payment per month on an eco-tourism beach property south of Cebu worth about about US$250,000. AirBNB used to bring in twice that per month, with profits going back into property improvements and accelerated payments (most Philippines mortgages are 10 years maximum). No foreign tourists allowed at present.
This plandemic will mark the end of most international air travel, tourism and the industries associated with it.
For countries like Thailand, the Philippines and the Maldives, that’s a good chuck of GNP (about 20 to 50% in some cases, with little else to offer)
Luckily I escaped back to Colorado just in time.
I need to remember the keyword Scamdemic.
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must be true! oh the humanity!
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