The US is playing a “completely new game” in terms of coronavirus control, now that variants are spreading across the country, Michael Osterholm, director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, told CBS News on Friday.
Why does it matter: Osterholm said the US could face another increase from variant B.1.1.7, which was first identified in the UK and has since been detected in the US. .
What are they saying: “We are, I think for the moment, in the eye of a hurricane in terms of the good news, the vaccine is coming, but the big challenge [is] with this new variant that has arrived here from Europe, “Osterholm told CBS News.
- “But beyond that, everything will be about variants and vaccine, and that will determine where we will be next year, next year and next year.”
- Osterholm predicted that, from now until the US can vaccinate more of its population, “we will see this increase B.1.1.7”.
The whole picture: His warning comes as several states across the country relax or withdraw their coronavirus restrictions.
Go deeper: The new rise in coronavirus in Europe is a warning to the United States