With half of US states reporting a rise in new cases, one expert warns of ‘danger signs’ in some parts of the US.
After weeks of many Americans failing to heed face mask and social distancing guidelines, health officials in some states are reporting an increase in younger populations testing positive — saying those individuals are often asymptomatic but could be infecting others. And public health measures meant to control infection aren’t quite up to speed — a problem the country has consistently faced in past months.
“As you reopen … you expect to see more cases. But what we’re hearing, in terms of the public health model — of testing people, through contact tracing, and then isolation and quarantine — it doesn’t sound like it’s working as well as it really needs to,” says former acting director of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Dr. Richard Besser.