According the an expert, the dire situation in states like Florida and Texas versus the successful turnarounds seen in Italy and Germany are a signal that a potentially avoidable catastrophe is looming. Barry says that “social distancing, masks, hand washing and self-quarantine remain crucial. Too little emphasis has been placed on ventilation, which also matters.” But he concludes that “the virus is already too widely disseminated for these actions to quickly bend the curve downward,” suggesting that “a comprehensive April-like shutdown may be required.” Similarly, Ashish Jha, MD, the director of the Harvard Global Health Institute (HGHI), tweeted on July 11 that he wasn’t sure what would “turn it around” in hard-hit states besides a “fully enforced mask order” and the closing of bars, clubs, restaurants, and all but essential retail. According to their numbers, Jha said Arizona, Florida, Louisiana, South Carolina, Texas, Georgia, and Alabama are “heading towards full shutdown.” Many other top health officials have agreed with Barry’s warnings, with World Health Organization (WHO) chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus saying that the situation will get “worse and worse and worse” if the U.S. stays on its current trajectory, CBS News reports. RELATED: For more up-to-date information, sign up for our daily newsletter. Ultimately, Barry notes that the U.S. has the highest number of coronavirus cases in the world and warns that “half-measures will leave transmission at a level vastly exceeding those of the many countries that have contained the virus. Half-measures will leave too many Americans not living with the virus but dying from it.” And for more ominous coronavirus warnings, check out The CDC Director Just Said the Words No American Wants to Hear Right Now.
