Photo: Face the Nation/Youtube
Dr. Anthony Fauci says “it’s just too soon to tell” if it will be safe to gather for Christmas.
During an appearance on Sunday’s episode of CBS’Face the Nation, the United States' leading infectious disease expert, 80, told host Margaret Brennan that the country should “focus like a laser” on lowering the number of COVID-19 cases as we approach the winter holidays.
On Friday, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended avoiding indoor gatherings and celebrating “virtually” or socially distanced outside. Should events be held indoors, the agency suggests using a window fan to enhance circulation and open windows and doors to “bring in fresh air” if possible.
The CDC does not recommend that unvaccinated individuals travel, domestically or internationally. Everyone will be required to wear a mask on public transportation, vaccinated or not.
The U.S.passed 700,000 deathsfrom the coronavirus on Friday as well, according to data from Johns Hopkins University, surpassing the country’s death toll from the 1918 influenza pandemic, due in part to the Delta variant.
About 55.8% of the nation’s population (185.2 million people) are currently fully vaccinated against the coronavirus, while 64.7% (214.9 million people) have received at least one shot, according todata from the CDC.
Though numbers are “turning around” nationwide, Fauci warned of Americans getting complacent. The country, he told Brennan, must “keep pushing on the vaccination front” in order to avoid repeating the past.
With the weather getting colder and the holidays approaching, more people will be apt to congregate indoors in the coming months. Even if you are vaccinated, Fauci said it still “makes sense to wear a mask and to avoid high-risk situations.”
As the CDC noted in their holiday recommendations, Fauci said ventilation “is going to be key.”
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source: people.com
