The following month, the number of COVID-19 deaths in the United States would exceed half a million, warned a candidate for the administration of President-elect Joe Biden.
Dr Rochelle Walensky, Biden’s selection to lead the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said there will be “dark weeks ahead” in the pandemic after the new administration takes office.
“In mid-February, we expect half a million deaths in this country,” CBS anchor Margaret Brennan told Walensky on “Face the Nation” on Sunday.
He added that Americans “have not yet seen the ramifications of what happened from the vacation trip,” which could mean more hospitalizations and deaths.
On Monday, the United States was approaching 400,000 virus-related deaths since the pandemic began.
Biden has pledged to administer 100 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine in the first 100 days of its presidency as one of its top priorities.
“We have looked closely and are confident that we have enough vaccine for the 100 million doses over the next 100 days,” Walensky said.
“This is what the president-elect has promised. It will be a strong lift, but we have it in us to do it.”