The US is unlikely to face a fourth wave of coronavirus, but is likely to see numbers on the plateau before it continues to decline, former FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb told ABC’s “Face the Nation” on Sunday.
Why it matters: This comes amid growing concern about a possible boom in the US. Gottlieb noted that there are still many unanswered questions about the new COVID-19 variant that could cause problems along the way.
What they say: Gottlieb said that in the case of numbers, a plateau can be fueled by the distribution of new variants – such as the B. 1.526 variant of New York, the South African variant, B.1.351, and the British variant, B.1.1 .7 – as well as the relief of safety restrictions.
- “I do not think we are going to have a fourth wave, I think what we are seeing nationwide is parts of the country that are flat, and we are seeing pick up in certain parts of the country.”
- “I think what you might see is a plateau for a period before we continue with a downward decline, mainly because B.1.1.7 is becoming more and more common, because we are retreating too quickly with respect to our masks off. and to lift the mitigation. ‘
But, but, but: Gottlieb said there remain questions about the variants themselves.
- “What we do not understand with 1,526 is whether people are re-infected with it and whether people who may have been vaccinated now become infected with it.”
- ‘One of the concerns about this particular variant is that it has the mutation that is also in the South African variant, in the B.1.351 variant, which we know in some cases causes people who have already had a coronavirus, become infected with it again. “
The whole picture: Gottlieb said the US should detect cautious cases of COVID-19.
- “We need to step in much more aggressively and start sequencing cases, especially people who report that they have been vaccinated before or have already had COVID.”