The United States is unlikely to face a fourth wave of coronavirus, but it will likely see a number of plateau cases before they continue to decline, former FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb told Face the Nation on Sunday.
Why does it matter: Gottlieb noted that there are still many unanswered questions about the new COVID-19 variants that could pose problems along the way.
What are they saying: Gottlieb said that a plateau where the numbers could be fueled by the spread of new variants – such as variant B. 1,526 in New York, the South African version, B.1.351 and the British version, B.1.1.7 – as well as reducing safety restrictions.
- “I don’t think we will have a fourth wave, I think what we see across the country are parts of the country rising, and we see increases in certain parts of the country.”
- “I think what you might see is a plateau for a while before continuing a downward decline, largely because B.1.1.7 is becoming more widespread, in large part because we are retiring too quickly with respect to take off your masks and raise our attenuation. “
But, but, but: Gottlieb said questions remain about the options themselves.
- “What we don’t understand with 1,526 is whether people are re-infected or not and whether people who could have been vaccinated are now infected with it.”
- “One of the concerns related to this special variant is that it has that mutation that is also in the South African version, in version B.1.351, which we know that in some cases causes the reinfection of people who have already had coronavirus. “
The whole picture: Gottlieb said the United States needs to start looking more closely at COVID-19 cases.
- “We need to intervene more aggressively and start sequencing cases, especially those who report that they have either been vaccinated before or have already had COVID.”