According to Dr. Deborah Birx — infectious disease expert for the White House Coronavirus Task Force — no one is immune from the coronavirus as the number of cases continue to rise across the nation.
CNN’s Dana Bash noted Birx warned of a resurgence of coronavirus cases in the midwest. She asked Birx if the United States is entering a new phase of the outbreak and what is she going to do to slow the spread.
“We are in a new phase,” Birx said.
She added, “What we’re seeing today is different from March and April. It is extraordinarily widespread. It’s into the rural as equal urban areas. And to everybody who lives in a rural area, you are not immune or protected from this virus.”
Watch her comments below:
Dr. Deborah Birx says, "we are in a new phase" of the coronavirus pandemic adding, "This epidemic right now is different and it's … more widespread and it's both rural and urban" #CNNSOTU pic.twitter.com/w09X9GrhL0
— CNN Politics (@CNNPolitics) August 2, 2020
Birx explained each state has a “tailored” set of recommendations based on what is happening at the community level.
She claimed they are beginning to see results from the mitigation procedures put into place by state and local officials.
Birx urged Americans to wear masks and practice social distancing no matter where they live.
She reiterated the pandemic is affecting every part of the nation.
“This epidemic right now is different and it’s more widespread and it’s both rural and urban,” Birx said.
During an appearance on “The Today Show” on July 24, she described the spread of the coronavirus as “three New Yorks,” as IJR previously reported.
In July alone, the number of deaths related to the coronavirus rose by over 25,000.
The number of coronavirus cases doubled in 19 states in the same month.
The states with the biggest increases were Florida, California, and Texas.
In Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee and West Virginia, cases more than doubled.
The states with the lowest increases were Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey and New York.