Coronavirus variants pose ‘real threat’ to vaccine progress, CDC

Coronavirus variants are once again strengthening roots in the US as a top health official warned the public about a “potential fourth surge of cases” in the country.

According to the international news agency, the head of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Dr. Rochelle Walensky said she was concerned by recent Covid-19 data. She added that about 70,000 new cases a day had been recorded last week – “a very high number”.

She further said that there were nearly 2,000 deaths a day in the same period.

“Please hear me clearly: at this level of cases, with variants spreading, we stand to completely lose the hard-earned ground we have gained,” Dr. Walensky said. “These variants are a very real threat to our people and our progress.”

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Dr. Walensky said she was “really worried” about reports of US states “rolling back the exact public health measures we have recommended to protect people from Covid-19”.

“We have the ability to stop a potential fourth surge of cases in this country. Please stay strong in your conviction,” she said.

The number of daily cases and deaths have fallen steeply after a rise in January. The improvement came when vaccinations began in the US. 

But the CDC said that variants could cause a spike in cases until more people are vaccinated.