OAN Newsroom
UPDATED 9:55 AM PT — Sunday, May 24, 2020
According to coronavirus task force member Dr. Deborah Birx, the
nation is trying to learn how to maintain openness and safety amid
ongoing reopening efforts. During a recent interview, she stressed
Americans must continue to follow social distancing guidelines and avoid
gatherings of more than 10 people, even if they are outside.She confirmed the government is preparing for a potential second wave of the virus in the fall, but also noted it is difficult to tell if the nation will have to close again.
The doctor also warned of asymptomatic carriers unknowingly spreading the virus.
“People are spreading the virus
unknowingly. This is unusual in the case of respiratory diseases. In
many cases, so you don’t know who’s infected. So, we really want to be
clear, all the time, that social distancing is absolutely critical. If
you can’t social distance and you’re outside, you must wear a mask.
These are items that are really critical to protect individuals. We’ve
learned a lot about this virus, but we now need to translate that
learning into real, changed behavior.” – Dr. Deborah Birx, White House coronavirus task force coordinator
The doctor went on to say being able to detect asymptomatic cases will be key to reopening safely.
“What I’m worried about is, what are we putting in place to find asymptomatic cases?” she asked. “This is why we’ve asked for proactive 100% testing of all residents and workers, then proactive ongoing testing of workers in nursing homes before nursing homes reopen, before any type of visitation.”
Dr. Birx added that proactive testing would extend to those living or working in large groups, which will indicate if the country is ready to reopen in the fall.
