Covid-19 cases and deaths in the United States have dropped by 20% from its peak in January, prompting Texas, Florida and several other state of drop their guard, opening up human gathering places like restaurants, bars and movie theaters. Dr. Anthony Fauci, 80, Chief of Allergy and Infectious disease at the National Institutes of Health [NIH] warns about cities and states opening up too soon when a more deadly and contagious U.K-originated variant or strain B.1.1.7 begins spreading around the U.S. With Spring-break sun worshipers in full swing in Florida and Texas, Fauci worries about another surge in the B.1.1.7 variant starting to spread like wildfire. Most spring-break revelers haven’t be vaccinated yet as first responders, health care workers and senior have been in the front of the line for vaccinations. Epidemiologists have warned about the more contagious and deadly U.K. strain.
Transportation Security Agency [TSA] confirmed it screened 1.2 million airline passengers, bringing the total number to 6.4 million the largest number since the start of the March 11, 2020 Covid-19 global pandemic. More travelers and air travel passengers translates, regardless of social distancing and mask wearing, to more exposure to the deadly virus that’s seen today 30,196,466 U.S. cases and 549,246 deaths. CDC Director Rochelle Walensky warned restless vacationers to be cautious about gathering in areas where the novel coronavirus and new B.1.1.7 variant could be easily transmitted. With B.1.1.7 73% more transmissible and 64% more deadly, there’s good reason for alarm, especially with unvaccinated groups like college-age students. “We have seen footage of people enjoying spring break festitivies, maskless,” said Walensky. “This is all in the context of still 50,000 cases a day.”
Whether or not the big picture is that Covid-19 or its new variants are starting to decline is anyone’s guess. By all accounts, new coronavirus cases are down 20% nationwide, despite spring break and increased travel. “We could go in either direction,” said emergency room physician Dr. Lean Wen. “What happens now is really up to us and whether we keep masking and avoiding indoor gatherings as we should be until the point that we’re vaccinated,” Wen said, urging citizens to proceed with caution. Even in highly restrictive Los Angeles County, restrictions have been lifted for indoor dining, bars and movie theaters. Walensky expressed concern over the new B.1.1.7 that looks to be the dominant Covid-19 strain by the end of March or early April. Walensky expressed concerns that relaxing travel, dining and other restrictions could result in a new surge, something happening in Europe.
Unlike the U.S., the European Union [EU] is having difficulty delivering vaccines, where the U.S. has been ahead of the curve with over 10% or 33 million citizens already receiving at least the first shot. EU officials hoped to roll out comparable amounts of approved vaccines like Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson. Amsterdam-based European Medicines Agency [EMA] has been reluctant to approve vaccines without sufficient Phase 3 data, approving only Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna and J&J vaccines. Some EU countries like Slovakia, Czech Republic and Hungary have ignored EMA approval and ordered Russia’s Sputnik V and China’s SinoPharm vaccines. EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and EU Council President Charles Michel have been embarrassed by Russian President Vladimir Putin being the first to launch the Sputnik V vaccine Nov. 11, 2020.
Ending gathering restrictions opening up various businesses like restaurants, bars and movie theaters was inevitable having watched an undeniable drop in Covid-19 cases. More people are willing to take whatever risks go with the territory of getting out in public. Major League Baseball [MLB] plans to allow fans back in stadiums when the season opens April 1. “The way the variants spread is by letting out guard down,” said Dr. Richard Besser, former acting CDC Director. “By not wearing masks, by not social distancing, if we can hang in there for a few more months, there will be enough vaccine for every adult in America to be vaccinated,” asking the public for more restraint. But with many citizens in cabin fever, it’s hard to keep restraining the public from partaking in usual-and-customary social activities. Public health officials can only appeal so much for logic and common sense.
Despite the B.1.1.7 variant becoming dominant in the U.S., the public is fed up with all the public health restrictions. Unlike the EU, the U.S. continues to vaccinate more citizens, especially as more vaccines like J&J and Novavax, set for FDA emergency use authorization in April. With over 109 million vaccines delivered to 21.4% of the total U.S. population, the numbers of cases and deaths should continue dropping regardless of how many people stick to social distancing and masking. Even with the B.1.1.7 variant becoming more dominant, all three currently approved vaccines provide immunity for the new strain. Watching the U.S. ramp up vaccinations quickly, the EU should do the same by granting emergency use authorization to Russia’s Sputnik V and China’s SinoPharm’s vaccines. There’s no excuse for playing politics when safe-and-effective vaccines are on the market.
