President Joe Biden and CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky are making impassioned pleas to Americans not to let their guard down in the fight against COVID-19.
On Monday, Walensky warned of a potential “fourth surge” of the virus and spoke of a “recurring feeling ... of impending doom.” Walensky spoke of hope but added, "Right now, I’m scared.”
Biden urged governors to reinstate mask mandates and other restrictions that some states have been easing.
"People are letting up on precautions, which is a very bad thing,” Biden said.
He added the virus will get worse, not better “if we let our guard down now.”
Despite the warnings, Biden laid out hopeful new steps to expand vaccinations, with all adults to become eligible over the next five weeks. Biden announced plans to expand the number of retail pharmacies that are administering vaccines, and investments to help Americans get to vaccination sites.
But the optimism was tempered by stark warnings about the potential for another wave of cases.. Cases have jumped 10% to nearly 60,000 a day. Hospitalizations are rising again to about 4,800 a day. Deaths are up to nearly 1,000 daily.
"I'm going to reflect on the recurring feeling I have of impending doom," Walensky said. ":We have so much to look forward to, so much promise and potential of where we are and so much reason for hope. But right now I'm scared."
