If Americans do not follow coronavirus prevention measures, such as wearing masks and social distance, the country could be in for its “worst fall” in history, warned the head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Thursday.
In an interview with WebMD, CDC Director Robert Redfield said that a virus surgeon, along with the upcoming flu season, could create the “worst case scenario” that “we’ve ever had.”
Colder weather in the fall is likely to drive more people indoors, with health experts saying COVID-19 spreads more easily.
Conflicting flu and COVID-19 outbreaks could overwhelm hospitals and drain resources, threaten lives and respond to the pandemic.
Redfield said the CDC encourages people to get a flu, and the agency has purchased an additional 10 million doses of the vaccine – compared to the typical 500,000 – to ensure that states have enough to cover uninsured adults.
“I’m trying to tell the American public not to let this important performance of American medicine go on the shelves,” Redfield said.
“We will have COVID in the fall, we will have flu in the fall,” he added, saying if people are vaccinated against the flu, they could potentially clear a hospital bed for someone infected with COVID -19 .
Redfield said circumstances will depend on whether people follow the guidelines: wear face masks, stay six feet away from others, wash hands frequently with soap and warm water and avoid large crowds, especially indoors.
“I ask some of America not to do it – we have to do it all,” he said.
More than 5 million people have been infected with COVID-19 in the US, and more than 165,000 have died. On Wednesday alone, there were 1,499 deaths, the deadliest day since May.
Earlier this summer, states advised to reopen large swaths of businesses even though the virus was not under control. People have become tired of staying inside, in some cases until ignoring basic prevention guidelines.
Wearing masks has become a political issue, and some states and counties have actively banned local leaders from manning them in public spaces. At the same time, the Trump administration and several state leaders are pushing for schools to reopen in areas where the virus is still running.
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