U.S. boosts vaccines, but warns of 'impending doom'
[DR. ROCHELLE WALENSKY] "I'm going to lose the script and I'm going to reflect on the recurring feeling I have of impending doom,"
U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky on Monday made an emotional plea for Americans to take precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19 amid an increase in cases across the country,
“I'm calling on every single one of you to sound the alarm, to carry these messages into your community and your spheres of influence. We do not have the luxury of inaction for the health of our country.”
The United States surpassed 30 million total cases of COVID-19 on Sunday, and the seven-day average of new cases was slightly less than 60,000 per day - which represented a 10% increase compared with the prior seven-day period.
U.S. President Joe Biden announced on Monday increased availability for vaccinations nationwide:
“I'm pleased to announce that at least 90 percent of all adults in this country will be eligible to be vaccinated by April the 19th, just three weeks from now, because we have the vaccines for the vast, vast majority of adults.”
The president added that despite the vaccine rollout, it was too early to ease up on precautions...
“We have an obligation, patriotic obligation to wash your hands, stay socially distant, wear a mask as recommended by the CDC and get vaccinated. (flash) Now's not the time to celebrate.”
This all comes as the U.S. government has hit the accelerator on its vaccine shipments - allowing states to finish vaccinating priority groups and open shots to all adults in the coming weeks.
