More extreme measures for people at high risk
National Center for Disaster Preparedness Director Dr. Irwin Redlener cautioned the country needs to take more extreme emergency measures because and in spite of the amount of important data that is still missing on the coronavirus outbreak in the U.S.
“Well, you know the problem with our information is that we are missing a very, very important piece of data, which is the ongoing assessment of who actually has it,” he explained. “Because we’re so far behind with the testing, we’re kind of operating in the dark in terms of making policies.”
He added, “I think the key thing now is we have to avoid becoming what has happened to Italy, where there are massive shutdowns, and, at some point, we’re going to have to pull the trigger and go to much more extreme methods other than just recommending that we don’t gather in large groups and so on.”
He said that, like Italy, the U.S. could potentially see a rapid increase in the transmission of the virus, which “starts happening at certain tipping points.”
“And we have to make a decision before we have the information about the actual number of people who have been—who actually are carrying the disease.”
“Either we are going to take actions in the absence of the information that we need – that is the actual number of people who are carrying it – or we’re going to wait and then suddenly see an enormous uptick in the number of people [who] are affected,” he concluded. “At which point, it will be too late for any of those more extreme methods to really have an effect that we desire.”
The CDC expanded its guidance for people at extreme risk of serious illness, like those over 60 or with underlying health conditions. They should start stocking up on enough groceries and medications to have on hand, CDC said. Those at greatest risk of serious illness should stay home as much as possible if COVID-19 comes to their community.
As the Lord Leads, Pray with Us…
- For members of the task force dealing with the responses of government to the coronavirus in the U.S.
- For people who consider themselves most at risk to be cautious and mindful of their own conditions and follow the guidelines set out by the CDC.
- For members of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Institutes of Health, the Surgeon General and his staff, and others with a direct responsibility toward the American public.
Sources: Fox News, MSNBC
