By Daniel Vega
The Covid-19 vaccine rollout has been swift in most of the U.S., with over 76 million people fully vaccinated and with 123 million people who have gotten at least the first dose of the covid vaccine. However, according to The Wall Street Journal Covid-19 cases are on the rise in more than half of all U.S. states, with the worst hit state being Michigan which has seen a 50% increase in hospital admissions.
This sudden increase in Covid-19 cases around the country is a warning sign that soon the U.S. may face a fourth wave of Covid cases. Dr. Rochelle Walensky, Director of the CDC, said this in a press conference on the rising Covid-19 cases, “We have so much to look forward to, so much promise and potential of where we are and so much reason for hope...but right now I’m scared.” This increase in covid cases has made many scientists worry of a potential fourth wave, which could cost many more thousands of American lives. The fuel for this potential fourth wave is young people. With the B.1.1.7 strain, better known as the U.K. variant, now the most dominant covid strain in the U.S., it is becoming easier for individuals to become infected. The U.K. variant has also been proven to infect people easier, which is why W.H.O is urging countries to keep mask mandates in place, because these variants may be more deadly and spread easier then the regular Covid-19 strain. The CDC has also said the number of young people who are being hospitalized has increased by 2.7%.
There is, however, still hope. With the U.S. doing so well with vaccinations, vaccinating on average 3 million people every day, scientists are saying that even if there is a fourth wave it will likely not be as bad as the previous waves, due to the fact that many people are vaccinated and so even if they get sick, they will likely not become severely ill. There has been a major setback with the Johnson and Johnson vaccine, after it was discovered that the Johnson and Johnson vaccine may cause blood clots. While this is being investigated, many scientists still say that the Johnson and Johnson vaccine is safe, as the probability of developing blood clots from the Johnson and Johnson vaccine is about 1 in a million. All of the people who developed blood clots were women of childbearing age. With that in mind the CDC still recommends that every American continue practicing safe public health measures to slow the spread of Covid-19, including but not limited to, practicing social distancing, wearing a mask, not congregating indoors with people outside of your household (unless you are vaccinated), and not traveling if you have tested positive, still apply. Stay safe Eagles!
Citations
Bloomberg News - https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-03-29/covid-hospital-cases-rise-in-25-states-and-patients-are-younger
Fortune.com - https://fortune.com/2021/04/07/the-cdc-says-this-covid-variant-is-now-the-most-dominant-and-it-hits-younger-people/
Wall Street Journal - https://www.wsj.com/articles/recent-rise-in-u-s-covid-19-cases-driven-by-younger-people-11618219801
Connecticut Children’s - https://www.connecticutchildrens.org/coronavirus/what-is-the-new-b117-strain-of-covid-19-and-does-it-more-easily-infect-kids/
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