Former FDA Commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb mentioned it’s doable that the US might flip the nook within the COVID-19 pandemic within the subsequent few weeks — and observe the identical trajectory as the UK, which has began to see circumstances plunge once more.
Gottlieb mentioned the US seems to be about three or 4 weeks behind the UK within the newest wave of circumstances, which has been pushed by the extremely contagious Delta variant.
“In case you take a look at the UK, they do within the final seven days seem like turning a nook. You’re beginning to see a downward trajectory on the circumstances,” Gottlieb mentioned on CBS’ “Face the Nation.”
“But when the UK is any information, we’re maybe additional into this epidemic and hopefully going to show a nook within the subsequent two or possibly three weeks,” Gottlieb added.
The UK on Sunday recorded its fifth day of declining circumstances with greater than 29,000 new infections, down round 39% from the week earlier than, officers with Public Well being England mentioned.
In the meantime, the US noticed its seven-day common of recent infections soar 53% on Thursday from the earlier week, based on officers from the Middle for Illness Management and Prevention.
Gottlieb mentioned the US might be “a lot additional into this epidemic than we’re choosing up,” suggesting that there’s extra virus spreading than at present identified.
“I consider that there’s extra virus than we’re choosing up proper now. There’s in all probability lots of people with gentle to subclinical an infection since extra of the an infection is going on in a youthful inhabitants that’s much less prone to grow to be very symptomatic,” Gottlieb mentioned.
