The director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is warning Americans that a second wave of the coronavirus could be worse than the current outbreak.
During an interview with The Washington Post, Robert Redfield shared his concerns about the possibility of a resurgence of the virus this winter.
“There’s a possibility that the assault of the virus on our nation next winter will actually be even more difficult than the one we just went through,” Redfield said on Tuesday, adding, “When I’ve said this to others, they kind of put their head back, they don’t understand what I mean.”
Redfield explained that a combination of COVID-19 and influenza could deeply overwhelm healthcare systems across the United States.
From the reported shortage of medical supplies — testing kits, N95 masks, ventilators — to the increase in hospital capacity, healthcare systems could be greatly strained during the winter months of the year.
“We’re going to have the flu epidemic and the coronavirus epidemic at the same time,” he said.
Redfield was also asked about President Trump’s “liberate” tweets — which he called “not helpful” — and the stay-at-home protests that have captured hundreds of people in multiple states not following social distancing guidelines.
Similar to Dr. Deborah Birx’s stance during Monday’s White House Coronavirus Task Force press briefing, Redfield simply reiterated that the CDC has released guidelines that should be adhered to.
Asked how it's possible for hair salons and tattoo parlors in Georgia to reopen, Birx says "if there's a way that people can social distance and do those things, then they can do those things. I don't know how." pic.twitter.com/Qx7YgPUPSV
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) April 21, 2020
The CDC director’s latest remarks come a week after his appearance on “Good Morning America,” where he was asked if a resurgence of the coronavirus was inevitable. He noted the possibility of a resurgence regardless of whether or not the United States gets the virus under control.
“I think we have to assume this is like other respiratory viruses, and there will be a seasonality to it,” Redfield said.
FULL INTERVIEW: CDC Director Dr. Robert Redfield speaks with @GStephanopoulos on the latest in the coronavirus pandemic battle and plans to re-open the United States. https://t.co/PrZRMwCBwK pic.twitter.com/v8eVXYX7o8
— Good Morning America (@GMA) April 15, 2020
As of Wednesday morning, there are more than 825,000 confirmed coronavirus cases in the United States, and the death toll — currently over 45,000 — continues to rise in the country.