Covid-19 Infections Surge 12 Percent in Past Week as Biden Administration Warns of Fourth Wave
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CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky gave an emotional and impassioned plea for Americans to continue mitigation practices during Monday’s Covid-19 press briefing, and a new Washington Post report is no explaining why: new infections have surged 12 percent in the past week:
New coronavirus cases in the United States continued to rise in the past week, jumping by as much as 12 percent nationwide, as senior officials implored Americans to stick to public health measures to help reverse the trend.
The seven-day average of new cases topped 63,000 for the first time in nearly a month, according to data compiled by The Washington Post, while states such as Michigan, Vermont and North Dakota reported substantial spikes in new infections. The nation appeared poised for a fourth wave of illness even as vaccine eligibility is expanding in many states.
During the Covid-19 briefing, Walensky appeared to choke up as she reminded viewers of her previous pledge that she would always tell American citizens the truth, even when it was not the wanted news. Walensky said that “now is one of those times when I have to share the truth and hope that you will listen.” She then began to reflect on what she described as “the feeling that I have about impending doom.”
“We have so much to look forward to, so much potential of where we are in so much reason for hope, but right now I am scared,” she added, before explaining her experience as an attending doctor overseeing the death of a patient, unable to say goodbye to loved ones due to Covid.
“I know that feeling of nausea when you read the crisis standards of care and wonder whether there will be enough ventilators to go around and who is going to make the choice,” Walensky continued. “I know what it is like to go to the hospital every day and see the extra morgue sitting outside.”
There are reasons for optimism that the coronavirus pandemic is starting to abate, namely a successful development and distribution of a number of vaccinations. At the current pace, the total doses administered by the first 100 days of the Biden Administration should come close to 230 million, which is more than double the attainable goal set by President Joe Biden of 100 million by the first 100 days.
That said, as Walensky noted, the recent uptick in infections mirrors surges in European countries as she insists that American citizens continue to wear masks, wash their hands, and remain socially distanced for just another couple of months or so.
