Wear a mask, don’t go out to crowded bars, protect others: senior US health officials lectured Americans, especially young people, on Tuesday for their carelessness since the deconfinement in May, a senior official warning that the number of new daily cases would more than double without major change.
• Read also: All the developments of the pandemic
Four doctors at the head of large American health organizations testified Tuesday before senators amazed to see the curve of cases starting again in more than half of the United States, while Europe succeeded in taking control of the virus.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, who heads the Institute of Infectious Diseases, lamented the “all or nothing” practiced by many Americans: either completely confined, or “in bars, without masks, without avoiding crowds, without practicing physical distance ”.
“We all have a role to play,” he insisted, denouncing the young people who feel “invulnerable”. “An infected person may not have symptoms, but they can infect someone else,” he says, like a grandmother or a child with leukemia.
“It is obvious that we do not currently have control,” insisted the doctor, a member of the presidential crisis cell on the coronavirus, and whose speech is the most free.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if we hit 100,000 a day if we don’t reverse the trend,” he added, as the counter shows around 40,000 cases today – against peaks. around 30,000 at the worst of spring.
The director of the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC), Robert Redfield, launched an appeal to the “millennials” (born after 1980) and to Generation Z, the next. “I ask those who are listening to get the message out,” he said.
Back to School
The mask is non-negotiable, they said. “Unfortunately, this simple, life-saving practice finds itself in a political debate that if you support Trump, you don’t wear a mask, but if you’re against Trump, you put one on,” said Senator Lamar Alexander. , a Republican.
“This is why I proposed that the president wear a mask from time to time, even if it is not necessary for him most of the time. The president has many admirers, they would follow his example, “he continued.
The contrast was striking on Tuesday between the optimism lavished over the past few days by Donald Trump’s vice-president, Mike Pence, and the grim analysis of the resurgence currently observed in the south and west of the country.
29 of the 55 US states and territories are now seeing the curve of new cases rise, said Robert Redfield.
Hospitalizations due to coronavirus are increasing in 12 states, he said.
More and more cities and states have declared a pause in their reopening processes, some closing bars and cinemas, others the beaches, while wearing a mask in closed public spaces has become compulsory in multiple places.
The question of the start of the school year, usually in August in the United States, also arises.
Arizona, which has a very active center of contagions, shifted it from the beginning of August to August 17.
But the experience of distance education in recent months is universally perceived as negative for children, in particular the most disadvantaged, with clear risks of dropping out. Many are campaigning for a return to school for the new school year.
“I firmly believe that we must do our best to get our children back to school,” said Anthony Fauci.
It will depend on the local epidemic situation, he warned. By encouraging schools to be creative, for example to extend the hours in the morning and in the evening, and integrate a part of virtual teaching.
The American Academy of Pediatrics took action last week to prioritize “the goal of getting students back to school physically.”
Studies on children and the coronavirus are not definitive, but several indicate that children are less infected, become less seriously ill, and may even be less contagious than adults.
U.S. still working with WHO
Despite Donald Trump’s decision to cut ties with the World Health Organization (WHO), the United States continues to work day to day with it, a senior health official said on Tuesday.
“I was not called back, I did not receive any instructions to withdraw,” said Brett Giroir, assistant secretary for health, and a member of the WHO executive board.
“Anyway there will probably be another executive board in October, I believe we all continue to work with WHO as a member of WHO, as far as public health standards are concerned,” he said. -he adds.
Brett Giroir clarified that the Americans had, for example, participated in a meeting on sickle cell disease two days ago.
“Will we remain a member, will I go to the executive council, I have not yet received any instruction,” he said.
Donald Trump said on May 29: “Because they have failed to make the necessary and required reforms, today we will end our relationship with the World Health Organization and redirect these funds to other needs urgent and global public health issues that deserve it. ”
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