US Coronavirus: Science hasn’t changed, virus has, says Fauci as CDC updates mask guidelines

“Eighty million American adults have made a choice. They have made the choice not to be vaccinated, and these same people do not mask themselves and it is the force that is spreading this virus in this country, “said Dr. Jonathan Reiner, CNN medical analyst. CNN.

But others, including the CDC, said the decision had more to do with new data showing that, unlike other strains, vaccinated people infected with the Delta variant can still have high viral loads, which means that which makes them more likely to spread the virus. .

“Unlike the Alpha variant we had in May, where we didn’t think if you were vaccinated you could transmit more, it’s different now with a Delta variant,” CDC director Dr Rochelle Walensky said. , citing information found by investigators. when looking at epidemic clusters.

With nearly all 50 states experiencing a wave of new cases averaging at least 10% more than the week before, according to data from Johns Hopkins University, US Surgeon General Dr Vivek Murthy said that the United States sees how dangerous the variant really is. time.

“That’s actually what you want to do with science. You want science to be dynamic, you want recommendations to reflect the latest scientific advancements, and that’s what you see in the recommendations that were released today. ‘hui,’ Murthy told CNN’s Wolf Blitzer on Tuesday.

But one thing has not changed, added Murthy, saying the data still shows that current vaccines are highly protective against infection, serious illness and death by the Delta variant.

Vaccinations are still the “foundation” of the end of the pandemic

While masking will help reduce the spread of Covid-19 in the United States, getting the vaccine is still “the foundation” for ending the pandemic, Murthy said.

“Vaccines still work. They still save lives. They still prevent hospitalizations at a remarkably high rate,” he added.

Vaccination rates are still not where they should be for enough Americans to be vaccinated against the virus to slow or stop its spread, experts said. Many experts have argued for vaccine requirements as a way to increase vaccination rates in the United States.

Los Angeles officials said on Tuesday that the city will require all of its employees to show proof of vaccination or undergo weekly tests.

“The fourth wave is here, and the choice for Angelenos couldn’t be clearer: get vaccinated or get vaccinated against COVID-19,” Mayor Eric Garcetti said in a statement. “We are committed to pursuing a full immunization mandate. I urge Los Angeles employers to follow suit,” he added.

The move comes after the number of people hospitalized for the coronavirus in Los Angeles County nearly doubled in the past two weeks. There are currently 745 people hospitalized with the virus, up from 372 people two weeks ago, according to the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health.

Such demands from local entities are “very reasonable,” Murthy said Tuesday.

Some US hospitals and federal agencies require employees to get vaccinated against Covid-19 or undergo regular testing. Murthy noted that many private institutions are planning to follow suit.

“These are decisions the federal government is not going to make,” Murthy told CNN’s Wolf Blitzer. “It will be the institutions that will do them, but I think they are very reasonable, because this is a time when we have to take all possible measures to protect ourselves not only ourselves, but the people around us, from Covid- 19. “

Authorities call for more vaccinations as hospitals overwhelmed

The impact of the Delta variant and the increase in cases is visible in the data and in the pressure on hospitals.

After declines in the past two months, cases of Covid-19 in children and adolescents are on the rise again, with more than 38,600 infected last week, the American Academy of Pediatrics reported on Tuesday.

More than 4.13 million children have tested positive for Covid-19 since the start of the pandemic. Children represent more than 14% of the cases reported each week.

In Springfield-Greene County, Missouri, CoxHealth’s hospital system must expand its mortuary capacity due to an increase in Covid-19-related deaths, President and CEO Steve Edwards said on Tuesday.

“Last year we made it bigger and we’re expanding it even more. We actually introduced wearable technology that allows bodies to cool down and place them outside the morgue. We had to expand it. because mortality has increased so much lately, ”Edwards said during an update in the county on behalf of CoxHealth.

Explaining what he called “the severity of the disease,” Edwards said: “We have had over 4,000 admissions for Covid. And with 549 deaths, that means thirteen and a half percent of our admissions have died. . And when we look in our Intensive Care, about 40% of the patients who are in intensive care do not come out. “

In New Orleans, as cases increase, hospitals have run out of resources and have started turning people away, New Orleans city communications director Beau Tidwell said on Tuesday.

“For God’s sake, get vaccinated,” he added.

The CDC has called on doctors and public health officials to act urgently to get more Americans vaccinated.

Without more vaccinations, the United States could experience increased morbidity and mortality from Covid-19, which could continue to overwhelm healthcare facilities, the CDC said.