According to a recent article published in CNN, experts say another Covid-19 surge hangs in the balance and we keep it from becoming reality.
Devastating Covid-19 spike
Officials say, even with slowed infection rates and increased vaccinations, another devastating Covid-19 spike could be on the horizon depending on what the United States does next.
The former director of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Dr. Tom Frieden said, “The question that hangs in the balance right now is, will we have a fourth surge?. “
“Every uncontrolled spread increases the risk that there will be dangerous variants that can be more infectious, more deadly, or an escape from immune protection.”
Reason for the current fall in the number
Vaccine?
The number of new cases has started to plateau after six straight weeks of decline. Although the fall has come alongside an increase in the administration of vaccines, experts say that they are not the only cause for the lowered numbers.
Natural reaction
Some of the decreases might be a natural reaction to the end of the holiday season, said Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.
But a return to preventative measures might also be a factor. “I think it’s a combination of a number of things,” Fauci said.
What measures were working?
The point is to keep doing what has been working, Friedan said. “To track very closely and recognize masking up is here to stay for many more months and avoiding sharing indoor air with others is very important,” he added.
Such measures can help avoid the potential surge feared from the coronavirus variant first identified in the UK that is believed to be more transmissible, said Francis Collins, the director of the National Institutes of Health.
A more contagious new variant
In addition, a new variant discovered in the Northeast is increasing at an alarming rate, said Dr. David Ho, one of the researchers who helped identify it.
He said Thursday this could result in a loss of vaccine efficacy, although studies indicate vaccines may still provide strong protection against variants.
He added that the variant could be more contagious, but his team does not have evidence to prove that at this time.
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Source: CNN
