A leading expert says that we are losing the war against SARS-CoV-2 as the number of new cases in the United States increases.
Dr. Mark Kortepeter, who has been actively involved in the fight against many epidemics, says the reason is simple. We do not take it seriously and are responsible for personal protection. He warned the public in February that “the virus is relentless and there is no margin for error in the use of personal protective equipment and hand hygiene.”
According to Forbes, Kortepeter said states that ignored the viral enemy or opened too aggressively are now paying the price with the rampant COVID-19 broadcast. States that were initially hit hard in the northeast and exercised caution have seen their numbers decrease or stabilize.
He said that although the number of deaths has decreased, as cases increase, we will see an increase in deaths in the near future. In his op-ed for Forbes, Kortepeter explained that the virus follows a rule: raise cells and reproduce.
“It does not discriminate who it infects,” he said, adding that if we let the brakes on and stop taking the necessary personal precautions, the “virus will take advantage of any opening you give it.”
In a previous article the expert wrote for Forbes, he described how infections spread. One of the key ingredients for an outbreak is human nature, he said. “We give the virus a chance to spread during interactions with other people,” he said.
Reducing the spread comes down to following a basic principle that no activity is safe, while some carry a higher risk than others. Participating in indoor activities, not wearing a mask, being in a crowd are activities that have higher risks of infection than exercising outdoors, distancing yourself socially, and limiting the number of people with whom you have direct contact. Wearing a mask also reduces the risk.
A recent study published in The Lancet showed the efficacy of physical distancing and the use of masks to reduce the transmission of SARs-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. Without any protective measure, the researchers found that viral transmission was 17.4%. Add a mask or respirator, and that number dropped to 3.1%. When people were less than a meter, approximately 3 feet away, the risk of transmission was 12.8%. With more than a meter away, it fell to 2.6%
Kortepeter concluded that if we don’t become proactive, the virus will win.
“Everyone can do their part to make a difference by recognizing their risk and taking steps to reduce that risk,” he said.
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