In an interview on CBS's "Face the Nation" on Sunday, U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams said that the country could reverse the course of coronavirus surges in just weeks. He claims his vision can be attained as long as people are willing to follow social distancing measures and hygiene guidelines to prevent the virus's spread.
He mentions that the disease course of COVID-19 is about two to three weeks. Using the same time frame, Adams said it is possible to turn the disease around if people just wear their masks. He added that more studies were showing the effectiveness of the face coverings.
Furthermore, he says that Americans should understand the bearings of their actions and that there is hope if people are willing to do the right thing.
Coronavirus cases in the U.S. have skyrocketed in the past few weeks, as many states started to reopen their economy. CNBC reports that the country hit more than 66,000 new cases on Friday, July 10.
According to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University, the U.S. has reported more than 3.2 million coronavirus cases, the greatest number of any country.
While some nations like the United Kingdom have successfully brought their COVID-19 cases down to a manageable level, experts like Anthony Fauci said the U.S. never had theirs under control before experiencing additional surges in cases.
Turning Tables on Face Masks
On February 29, Surgeon General Adams tweeted, urging people to stop buying masks. He initially claimed that the face coverings were ineffective and would not prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
Seriously people- STOP BUYING MASKS!
They are NOT effective in preventing general public from catching #Coronavirus, but if healthcare providers can’t get them to care for sick patients, it puts them and our communities at risk!
https://t.co/UxZRwxxKL9 — U.S. Surgeon General (@Surgeon_General) February 29, 2020
This time around when CBS's Margaret Brennan asked Adams if he regrets the comments he made earlier this year, he said circumstances were different before as little was still known about the virus and its transmission.
He explained how it was initially thought that the virus would not likely spread when people were asymptomatic. However, a few months into the pandemic, recommendations change, and science evolves.
He says that science now implies that asymptomatic carriers can spread the virus. Furthermore, he now acknowledges that masks are an effective means to limit the viral spread.
Effects of Over Policing
Federal guidelines recommend the use of face coverings. However, there has been no federal mandate necessitating people to use them. Meanwhile, some states and local leaders have enforced orders requiring the use of face coverings when out in public.
Adams said orders requiring face coverings work best on the local and state levels. Moreover, he contests that a federal mandate could lead to issues with "over-policing."
He adds that people need to have an understanding of why it is necessary to practice preventive measures. People need to know how they can benefit from it anf=d how much it can save their lives.
According to the Surgeon General, if officials simply tried to mandate it, an enforcement mechanism would be necessary. A crucial point of consideration is that the country is in the midst of a period where over-policing has caused individuals' deaths, even for such mild offenses.
