Impending doom looms with rise of Covid-19 cases US official warns

Even as the country continues to surpass projections on vaccine distribution, a top US health official has advised of “impending doom” due to rising COVID-19 cases.

Dr Rochelle Walensky, the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), said she was “going to reflect on the recurring sense of imminent doom” during a news conference on Monday.

“We have so much to look forward to, so much promise and opportunity in where we are, and so much cause for hope,” she told reporters, “but right now, I’m scared.”

According to data from Johns Hopkins University, the US is still averaging 63,000 new cases per day as of March 29, despite an average of 2.7 million vaccine jabs being distributed across the country per day over the last week. This is an increase after a recent plateau in new infections.

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According to the White House, more than 145.8 million vaccine doses have been distributed since the country’s vaccination campaign started late last year, with 73 percent of seniors receiving their first dose.

By April 19, 90 percent of all US adults will be eligible for the vaccine, according to President Joe Biden.

Andy Slavitt, the acting administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, said the announcement was “good news”, but warned that Americans need to continue to follow public health guidelines.

Dr Anthony Fauci, the White House Chief Medical Adviser, told CBS on Sunday that the increase in cases could be due to “stuff like spring break and a pullback on prevention methods.”

Despite the CDC’s guidelines, several states, such as Texas and Mississippi, have lifted restrictions and mask mandates. Businesses are still able to enforce the restrictions.

The US has reported more than 30.2 million COVID-19 cases and more than 549,000 coronavirus-related deaths as of Monday, according to the Johns Hopkins University tally and in line with reports released by Aljazeera.

“I think we’re on the right track. We can’t, however, slow down. Millions of people are still unvaccinated and at risk, according to Slavitt.

While we continue to hope for the best results as regards the continuous rise of the Covid-19 virus all over the world and with the continual mass vaccination going on in various countries of the world, everyone is advised to stay safe and continue to adhere to the Covid-19 protocols.