A new wave of COVID-19 cases has the new director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Rochelle Walensky, MD, “scared,” she said during a March 29 White House briefing.
COVID cases have risen 10% week over week, with about 60,000 new cases per day, according to Walensky. She said she felt an “impending doom” over the potential fourth wave of cases, multiple media outlets reported.
The spike in cases, as well as hospitalizations and deaths, comes as many Americans are feeling more confident due to a growing vaccination rollout. However, throngs of Spring Break travelers have gone viral in places like Miami Beach, where the mayor set an 8 p.m. curfew to discourage visitors from packing bars.
In the U.S., more than 145 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been administered as of March 29, according to the CDC. Nearly 16% of the total population is fully vaccinated, according to the agency. As many older Americans are still getting vaccinated, several states are opening their vaccination programs to everyone 18 and older.
According to President Biden, at least 90% of the U.S. population will be eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine by April 19. However, healthcare professionals and federal leaders are still concerned about new cases rising across the country. Texas recently eased up all its COVID restrictions, including state-wide mask mandates. The move by Governor Greg Abbott has been heavily criticized.
“If we let our guard down now, we can see the virus getting worse, not better,” Biden said Monday, the AP reported. “People are letting up on precautions, which is a very bad thing.”
Currently, there are three vaccine options available on the U.S. market––one each from Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson. Vaccines have been a cornerstone of the U.S. COVID-19 response, and proof of vaccination is likely to become an important factor in domestic and international travel soon. Unlike some other countries, the White House will not create a federal system for Americans to prove they are vaccinated, relying on the private sector to figure it out, the AP reported.
Amy joined TriMed Media as a Senior Writer for HealthExec after covering home care for three years. When not writing about all things healthcare, she fulfills her lifelong dream of becoming a pirate by sailing in regattas and enjoying rum. Fun fact: she sailed 333 miles across Lake Michigan in the Chicago Yacht Club "Race to Mackinac."