Dr. Anthony Fauci, the White House medical adviser for the novel coronavirus, recently told CNN that new COVID-19 numbers have plateaued at a “disturbingly high level.”
- Fauci warned the U.S. might be headed for another surge.
- “It’s almost a race between getting people vaccinated and this surge that seems to want to increase,” Fauci said.
Europe vs. U.S. in COVID-19 fight
Fauci told CNN that Europe was a good example of a country that saw a high level of COVID-19 cases amid its vaccine rollout.
The difference may come from the vaccination strategy. U.S. is vaccinating Americans at an exceptionally high level. On Tuesday, the United States reached a high marker in the fight against the novel coronavirus with close to 1 in 4 Americans being fully vaccinated against COVID-19, according to NBC News.
- Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say 40% of adults and 75% of seniors have gotten at least one dose of one COVID-19 vaccine, NBC News reports.
Europe has seen success with its vaccine rollout, though, according to Politico. Some countries are behind the United States’ pace, but projections show many countries will be vaccinated sooner rather than later.
How to stop COVID-19 from spreading again
Fauci told CNN all Americans should continue to take precautions against the novel coronavirus. This includes wearing masks, staying socially distant and washing your hands. He also encouraged people to get vaccinated.
- “Hang in there a bit longer,” he said. “Now is not the time, as I’ve said so many times, to declare victory prematurely.”