Anthony Fauci has issued a stark warning that the United States could be on the verge of another 'disturbing surge' of Covid-19...
Anthony Fauci has issued a stark warning that the United States could be on the verge of another 'disturbing surge' of Covid-19 cases.
Speaking with CNN's Jim Acosta on Saturday, Fauci said the rising daily cases and easing of restrictions showed the United States was not out of the woods yet.
'Just yesterday, we had over 60,000 new cases in a day. That's disturbing,' Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said.
'That's what happened in Europe, and what is happening, and Europe, for the most part, is going through another disturbing surge.'
As CNN showed live footage of crowds cramming into Times Square in New York, Fauci begged Americans not to drop their guard or take undue risks.
'This is not going to last forever.'
'Double down, just hang in there a bit longer, and the vaccinations of people in this country are going to override the surge of the virus. The vaccine is going to win out.
'It's not going to be easy, I hope we have a degree of success.'
Appearing on Jim Acosta's CNN show on Saturday afternoon, Fauci begged Americans not to let Covid fatigue cause them to take undue risks
Fauci said the US was still at risk of another wave of cases as has been seen in Italy, where a lockdown came into force. Here, officers from the Carabinieri monitor the Coliseum
Fauci raised the specter of the US having to endure even more lockdown misery as is happening in Europe, where Italy has gone back into lockdown over Easter weekend as authorities try to combat spiraling case numbers.
'There is the danger, Jim, of having a resurgence. And another big surge,' Fauci said.
'So, don't declare, prematurely, victory. Because we're not there yet.'
Fauci said the race was on to get people vaccinated before another surge could take hold.
'And the more people, on a daily basis, you get vaccinated, the better chance you have.
'I plead with you. Don't give back the progress we've all fought so hard to achieve,' Biden said in a brief address.
'We need to finish this job,' he said. 'We need every American to buckle down and keep their guard up in this homestretch.'
Crowds continued to flock to South Beach in Florida on Saturday, even as Spring Break began to wind down
Chicago Cubs fans, many not wearing masks, react during their team's game between the Cubs and the Pittsburgh Pirates at Wrigley Field on Saturday in Chicago. The Cubs defeated the Pirates 5-1
The warm spring conditions on Saturday drew large crowds of people to Central Park in New York. The city has reopened cinemas, comedy clubs and music venues at reduced capacity
Last week, CDC director Dr Rochelle Walensky warned that she had a 'feeling of impending doom' over the rising U.S. infection rates.
Increasing infections prompted Biden to urge Americans to keep wearing masks and taking other precautions to stop the pandemic that has killed more than 2.8 million people worldwide.
The US has officially vaccinated 100M citizens with one or more dose of COVID-19 shots. Some 40 per cent of the population has had one dose of vaccine.
About 17.5% of Americans are now fully vaccinated against the disease CDC said.
In Europe the rollout has been far slower with only 10 per cent of Europe's total population receiving one vaccine dose, and four per cent receiving two.
Europe has seen delays with vaccine rollout with a production shortage.
A fear of a higher incidence of blood clots with AstraZeneca has led to the halting of vaccinations using that particular brand of jab.
Italy entered a three-day Easter lockdown on Saturday to try to prevent a surge in infections over the religious holiday weekend.
The entire country is now in the 'red zone' - the highest level of lockdown restrictions - after cases have soared to around 20,000 new cases a day in a devastating third wave of the pandemic.
In France, authorities are also scrambling to deal with a dramatic rise in Covid-19 infections, with over 46,000 cases being recorded on Good Friday.
The country today entered its third national lockdown for four weeks after French president Emmanuel Macron announced the move in an address to the nation on Wednesday night.
All of mainland France is now under a 7pm curfew, with working from home being expected for those than can, gatherings limited, non-essential shops closed and travel restrictions imposed.
The United States reaped the fruits of its vaccination campaign against Covid-19 on Friday with 40 per cent of the population having received their first jab as it became the first nation to reach 100 million people with shots.
But Europe's roll-out has faced fresh obstacles in recent days. Only 10 per cent of Europe's total population, around 75million people, has received one vaccine dose, and four per cent, around 30 million people, have received two, according to the World Health Organization.
No comments