As Americans around the country struggle to recover from the pandemic and deal with the threat of the delta variant, a leading government source on COVID information is raising the alarm.
Anthony Fauci warns Americans that a variant worse than Delta is coming.
“What we’re seeing, because of this increase in transmissibility, and because we have about 93 million people in this country who are eligible to get vaccinated who don’t get vaccinated — that you have a significant pool of vulnerable people,” he told McClatchy.
He went on to say the pandemic may continue to linger and provide the opportunity for an even worse version of the virus.
“If we don’t crush the outbreak to the point of getting the overwhelming proportion of the population vaccinated, then what will happen is the virus will continue to smolder through the fall into the winter, giving it ample chance to get a variant which, quite frankly, we’re very lucky that the vaccines that we have now do very well against the variants — particularly against severe illness,” Fauci said. “We’re very fortunate that that’s the case. There could be a variant that’s lingering out there that can push aside delta.”
Though we were seeing 10,000 cases of Covid per day, Fauci now worries that number could balloon. “I think you’re likely going to wind up between 100,000 and 200,000 per day.”
U.S. Center for Disease Control Rochelle Walensky recently addressed concerns about the vaccine as delta cases rise. While she did tell Americans to get vaccinated, she also urged them to do their own research and be informed.
“We recognize that some of you are still thinking about whether you will get vaccinated,” she said. “Maybe you’re seeing your local officials stepping forward publicly to get vaccinated, or maybe you’re watching on local news that your community hospitals are getting full. Or scarier still, maybe COVID-19 sickness has tragically hit you or your community closer to home. If you are still on the fence, if you still have questions about the vaccines, we welcome them. My request to you is this: Ask your questions. Talk to your healthcare provider. Talk to your pharmacist. Talk to your friends and neighbors who have gotten vaccinated and get your questions answered so that you feel comfortable and informed in making this critical decision. And, please, continue to do the things that we know work to protect you and your family until you are fully vaccinated.
