"US COVID-19: Variants Aren't the Only Issue... Risks of Travel Resumption and Easing Quarantine"

CDC Director Expresses "Deep Concern" Over COVID-19 Spread

Source: CNBC

[Asia Economy Reporter Yujin Cho] Concerns have been raised that the risk of a resurgence of COVID-19 in the United States is rapidly increasing due to the resumption of travel and the easing of quarantine regulations.

According to the U.S. economic media CNBC, Anthony Fauci, director of the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, appeared on CBS's 'Face the Nation' on the 28th (local time) and warned that COVID-19 cases in the U.S. could surge sharply.

Director Fauci said, "We are taking seriously the increase in infections from highly contagious variants originating from the UK, South Africa, and Brazil, but that is not the only reason for the risk of a sharp rise in COVID-19 cases," adding, "The increase in states easing quarantine measures such as spring break travel and lifting mask mandates has also had an impact."

He expressed concern that some states are lifting quarantine regulations such as mask mandates and limits on gathering sizes, calling it "premature."

He also pointed to the fact that millions of Americans, who have been confined for a year, are resuming travel by booking flights and hotels as a risk factor for the resurgence of COVID-19.

Fauci said, "Even if people wear masks on planes, activities such as waiting in line at airport check-in counters or dining at restaurants increase the risk of infection," and added, "Transmission activities are not only carried out by variant viruses."

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the average number of new confirmed cases in the U.S. over the past week was 61,821, a 12% increase compared to the previous week.

Director Fauci stated that after the COVID-19 infection rate peaks, there is a risk of a sharp rise again if it remains at a high plateau stage for a certain period. The plateau stage means that the daily number of new confirmed cases no longer increases after peaking but remains at a high level.

Fauci emphasized that maintaining such a high level of infection rate is dangerous. However, he said that if more than 3 million vaccine doses are continuously administered daily, the infection rate will be reduced to a much lower level. Currently, 3 to 3.5 million vaccine doses are administered daily in the U.S.

President Joe Biden recently announced at a press conference that he aims to vaccinate 200 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines to Americans by his 100th day in office. This doubles his previous pledge to administer 100 million doses by the 100th day. Biden’s 100th day in office is April 30.

At a White House briefing, Rochelle Walensky, director of the CDC, also expressed deep concern about the COVID-19 situation. Walensky said, "Now is not the time to ease restrictions," adding, "We are seeing a shift toward increasing confirmed and hospitalization cases, and if we do not control the situation now, there is a possibility that the epidemic curve will surge again."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.