VIDEO: A top expert diagnoses the state of the COVID-19 pandemic
The widening distribution of vaccines has brought the pandemic to a new, hopeful phase, but rising COVID-19 case numbers are a sobering reminder that it isn’t over yet.
“Big picture: The worst of the pandemic is behind us,” Advocate Aurora Health Executive Medical Director of Infectious Disease and Prevention Dr. Robert Citronberg said during a recent online event. “There’s no doubt about that. But we also know that we’re not done yet.”
COVID-19 caseloads are ticking up in both Illinois and Wisconsin. In Illinois, 3,790 new confirmed cases were reported on Wednesday — the highest daily count since January — and 1,710 were in the hospital. Wisconsin reported 727 new confirmed new cases and is averaging 300 more cases per day than it was about a month ago.
“We’ve made tremendous progress. We’re almost there,” Dr. Citronberg said. “But we’re just not there yet.”
Hope rests with vaccines and the public’s ongoing commitment to good public health practices like wearing masks. Eligibility has expanded in both states, and the vaccine supply problems that slowed distributions have eased.
“Now we’re in a great place. We have three vaccines that have been approved,” Dr. Citronberg said. “Pretty soon, we’ll have more supply than demand for vaccine. And we’re a couple of months ahead of schedule.”
Dr. Citronberg made the comments during a Facebook Live event hosted by Advocate Aurora Health CEO Jim Skogsbergh on Wednesday, and you can watch the full video below.
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About the Author
Mike Riopell, health enews contributor, is a media relations coordinator with Advocate Health Care and Aurora Health Care. He previously worked as a reporter and editor covering politics and government for the Chicago Tribune, Daily Herald and Bloomington Pantagraph, among others. He enjoys bicycles, home repair, flannel shirts and being outside.
1 – Wondering about those of us who had an allergic reaction to the first vaccine. There isn’t much info out there about our status. Can we eventually get the second or a different vaccine? I would love to be fully vaccinated at some point.
2 – Working a hybrid situation remote on non MD days and in clinic on MD day, LOVE it. Will this continue into the future?
Best Regards,
Angela
When will these vaccines be available for children under 16 years old? More specifically would little children ages from 4 to 10 be given these vaccines and how likely are they to fall ill if not vaccinated and contract Covid-19.