American Coronavirus: A dangerous variant of Covid-19 has spread to all 50 states. Experts fear this will increase cases

And although the United States immunizes nearly five times faster than the global average, with 40% of adults having received at least one vaccine, low-income countries with limited access to vaccines could become a site for variants. spiraling out of control, Osterholm said.

Fortunately, the United States has conditions that could help fight another surge: rising vaccination rates, a significant percentage of the population having already been infected, and global warming, said Dr. Paul Offit, member. of the FDA Vaccine Advisory Committee.

Restrictions are eased with increased vaccinations

The White House said Monday there will be enough vaccines for all Americans by the end of next month, and some states have started planning for a return to normal.

In Washington, DC, Mayor Muriel Bowser is calling on residents to get vaccinated as soon as they get the chance. It also eases many restrictions from May 1, including allowing for indoor seated performances at 25% capacity, and non-essential recreation centers, libraries, museums and galleries and businesses will be able to operate at 50% capacity indoors or out. outside.

“We know we can expect to see an increase in cases this month, but with vaccinations and continued guarantees, we expect that later in the spring these cases will decrease,” the mayor said, before recalling to residents to “get vaccinated as soon as possible. as you have the opportunity.”

Bowser is one of many local and state leaders to ease restrictions, although adherence to precautions remains a crucial part of the fight against the virus, said Dr Ashish Jha, Dean of Brown University School of Public Health, to CNN’s Wolf Blitzer.

“We’re not there yet and the variations make it of particular concern,” Jha said. “We really have to squat for a few more weeks. We’re very close to the finish line but we can’t stop yet.”

Covid-19 cases have been on the rise for four consecutive weeks in part because of the spread of variants, said Dr Rochelle Walensky, director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

And statewide, there are at least 81 new groups in K-12 schools, according to data released Monday by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.

In Ohio, an increase in the positivity rate sent the state back to a “back to basics, common sense” order on Covid-19 prevention, Governor Mike DeWine said.

The new ‘streamlined’ order, which is expected to be ready to be signed by the end of Monday, includes the wearing of masks in most indoor locations, avoiding congregating in groups of more than 10 and maintaining social distancing .

“It’s really, really a race,” DeWine said. “These are the things we need to do as we go along.”

Health experts debate second dose delays

With the threat of another possible surge, health experts are debating whether to maintain the current immunization schedule or delay second doses to ensure more Americans get their first dose quickly.

“Right now, with the boom that’s about to happen, that’s what we want to do now, is to protect as many people as possible so that they don’t get serious illnesses, d ‘hospitalizations and deaths,’ Osterholm said.

The decision to focus on the first doses may depend on the supply, Dr Kent Sepkowitz, an infectious disease specialist at Memorial Sloan Kettering, told CNN on Monday.

“If the stock is low, then yes, I think we should be optimizing ‘good enough’ vaccination for more people than ‘super-duper’ protection for less,” Sepkowitz said.

Although a single dose provides protection against the virus, it is still not known how long that protection lasts, Dr Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, told Elizabeth Cohen of CNN.

And since the spread variants can decrease the effectiveness of vaccines, “you’re in a thin spot if you don’t have the full impact,” Fauci said.

“So there is some merit in the arguments put forward,” Fauci said. “But right now, given the number of vaccines we can give every day, literally every day that passes, we’re getting closer and closer to where we want to be.”