The rise in the number of Covid-19 cases in the United States follows a curve “almost vertical“, which is not currently the case with hospitalizations, said Dr Anthony Fauci, senior White House adviser on the health crisis, on Sunday.
“We are in the middle of a very strong wave“Dr Fauci said on ABC television, adding that the increase in cases,”almost vertical“, was “unprecedented“, with an average of almost 400,000 new infections per day.
Hospitalizations are also on the rise, but not at the same rate.
Even if it is not necessary to “draw too hasty conclusions“, since hospitalizations are often later indicators, there is”more and more evidence“that the highly contagious Omicron variant leads to less severe forms,” the scientist explained, citing data from South Africa and England.
According to him, with so many infections, the variant could still drive more people to the hospital, thus putting “pressure on the hospital system“.
The return to school is not in danger
Anthony Fauci said he hoped the current wave would peak “after some weeks“before reversing, as happened in South Africa.
On the eve of the start of the school year, the immunologist called on parents to “seriously consider having their children vaccinated“, to encourage them to wear the mask and to test them.
“With all of this, the situation will be safe enough for the children to return to school.“
Miguel Cardona, US Minister of Education, said the goal was to maintain “full-time face-to-face learning“, the pupils having”suffered enough“since the start of the crisis.
–
