(CNN) — The evidence that Americans are preparing to return to normal life is increasingly evident.
States are relaxing capacity restrictions in public areas and private gatherings. More school districts are reopening for face-to-face classes. Travel is on the rise, with TSA data showing more than 1 million daily passengers at U.S. airports for two consecutive weeks, the largest number since the covid-19 pandemic closures in early 2020. .
However, many experts reiterate that covid-19 is far from over.
Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), said on Thursday’s “Today” show that the US “continues to see about 1,000 deaths a day.” , which pointed out that there were too many.
Regarding the number of infections per day, Walensky said: “What worries me is the constant flow of 50,000, 60,000, and we continue to see that even today.”
Walensky pointed to the first signs that vaccines are working, citing declining death rates for people 65 and older. However, more infectious variants of COVID-19 are circulating, he warned.
With some states seeing increases of at least 10% in weekly average cases, according to Johns Hopkins University data, variants like B.1.1.7 can lead to increased risk of exposure and potential stagnation in the fight against covid-19.
“It tells us when we have a more contagious variant that all bets are off because it means that activities that we thought were fairly low risk are now going to be higher risk,” CNN medical analyst Dr. Leana Wen told CNN’s Anderson Cooper on Thursday.
The variants are also complicating treatments, as the use of a certain monoclonal antibody treatment to treat COVID-19 has been stopped due to less effectiveness.
The focus now is to vaccinate enough Americans to avoid sudden increases in infections and hospitalizations.
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While there is optimism about vaccines across the country, with the Biden administration setting a goal for 200 million doses to be distributed in the coming weeks, there is additional concern that the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are given in two doses. deferred. It means that, in the best case scenario, it takes more time before you can get back to normal.
“For us to achieve herd immunity even at this rate, it will probably take about five months, assuming we can fully convince 70% of the population to inject,” said CNN medical analyst Dr. Jonathan Reiner to CNN’s Erin Burnett on Thursday.
Even for those who are fully vaccinated, Wen said extra precautions should be followed when interacting with other people.
“We know that right now when there is such a high level of coronavirus that is circulating in our communities, that even people who are fully vaccinated where they are in public with others who are not vaccinated, that it is courteous and correct for them from the point of view From an infection control point of view, what you need to do is wear a mask, ”Wen said.
Warning Signs Remain As States Expand Vaccine Eligibility
While states and vaccine distributors push to inoculate as many adults as possible, the latest screening from the University of Washington is a reminder of what is to come for the nation.
At least 600,000 people will have died from COVID-19 by July 1, according to the university’s Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME), which means that some 59,000 people will die in the next three months.
The IHME says that 10,000 lives could be saved if the use of masks increased from the current 75% to 95% of the population.
“Most of the states in the northern half of the country now have transmission on the rise, with the steepest increases in Michigan. The increases are likely related to the combination of the spread of variant B.1.1.7 and recent increases in mobility, ”he said.
With the increase in vaccine supplies, states are opening up eligibility to more adults to receive vaccines.
Minnesota, Connecticut, North Carolina, New Hampshire, Florida and California recently announced that adults of almost all ages will receive the green light for vaccinations in mid-April.
Six states have already expanded coronavirus vaccine eligibility to anyone 16 and older, according to a recent CNN tally, and at least 26 more plan to open to people 16 and older by the end of April.
Vaccines are being tested for children
Meanwhile, drug companies are beginning to test the efficacy of vaccinating children, which would be another layer of defense against a surge in infections, as school districts expect fully face-to-face classes.
Dr. Anthony Fauci told a Senate hearing last week: “We don’t really know what that magic point of herd immunity is, but we do know that if we vaccinate the overwhelming majority of the population, we will be in good shape. Ultimately, we would like and we have to include children in that mix.
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Researchers at Duke University have begun testing Pfizer’s coronavirus vaccine in children under the age of 12, the company told CNN on Thursday. At least two children have already received the first vaccine. Moderna announced its next phase of pediatric vaccine trials last week, enrolling children in the US and Canada ages 6 months to 11 years.
Johnson & Johnson previously announced that it intends to start rehearsals between the ages of 12 and 18 and then add the youngest to rehearsals.
Vaccines for pregnant women can also provide benefits, as Dr. Wen told CNN on Thursday.
“There is accumulating evidence for the safety and efficacy of vaccines for pregnant women,” he said. ‘Initially in clinical trials, pregnant and lactating women were not included. But since then, we have had thousands of pregnant women who choose to get vaccinated.
“There have been no adverse safety signs or safety concerns in the thousands of women who have received the vaccine so far. And now there is growing evidence that they also generate a strong immune response that protects them. In fact, the antibodies that are produced appear to cross the placental barrier and are also secreted in breast milk and can protect the newborn, ”Wen said.
“If I was pregnant right now, I would discuss it with my doctor, but I would probably choose to get vaccinated.”
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