Daily cases of COVID-19 have been rising since mid-September, with new cases dropping off over the last couple of days. The surge is why Gov. Steve Sisolak gave Nevadans two weeks to turn the trends around, or face possible restrictions. Dr. Deborah Birx is the White House Coronavirus Response Coordinator. She says we already know how to avoid the spread.
"We know what to do as Americans but we have to be willing to do it and do it for each other, and frankly, to everyone out there, do it for your families," Birx said.
Nevada's COVID-19 Response Director says Sisolak will give further direction, November 25. That is one day before Thanksgiving. Birx says Nevadans should avoid traditional gatherings for the holiday and do not celebrate with people who do not live in your household.
"I know how disappointing this is going to be, to limit the number of people you get together in Thanksgiving but you're making that personal sacrifice as I know every mom does for others in their family," Birx said. "You're making that sacrifice so that we an all be together in 2021."
Birx recently visited Nevada. She traveled to 42 states in four-and-a-half months to discuss the disease with local, state and tribal leaders.
"I was privileged to be in your great state a few weeks ago, but what I did notice is not everyone in the state taking the precautions that they need to take everyday to stop the spread of this virus," Birx said.
While many people are practicing social distancing and mask-wearing in public places, Birx says the spread is happening at home because people are not taking the same precautions there.
"As those spaces have gotten safer, people have been more willing to let down their guards at home," Birx said.
As the daily cases and 14-day rolling average increases, so have hospitalizations. Renown Regional Medical Center is no using its alternate care site for some COVID patients. Birx says it will be up to our behaviors if that will continue.
"You can expect that unless your people of Nevada start following the masking, physical distancing, not only in public but taking that home and being safe at home," Birx said.
One of Birx's stops was in Elko, where she spoke to county commissioners about the virus. She says there are a lot of people who do not believe the severity of the disease, so it is important to communicate with them in a way that will encourage them to buy into the best practices. One example is that the overwhelming majority of deaths happen with people who have underlying health issues.
"Yes, they had heart disease as many Americans do but they would not have died in October if they hadn't contracted COVID," Birx said. "COVID was the reason they died."
The disease is hitting the older population more than any other. Birx says that while death rates among people over the age of 70 has dropped from 30 percent, it is still too high at 10 percent.
"I don't think any American would look at their grandmother in the eye and say 'Oh, I don't care if you're not of that 10 percent,'" Birx said. "We do care."
Birx says there is light at the end of the tunnel because of the advancement in vaccine production from Pfizer and Moderna. She is asking Nevadans and Americans to make the sacrifices now to make sure they live long enough to get vaccinated.
"We have the vaccines coming," Birx said. "It's a matter of weeks. Please, let's take care of one another going into this Thanksgiving and into the holidays."
She says the vaccines are 94-95 percent effective and very safe, so she is urging as many people to get the vaccine as possible when it becomes available.
"That ability for us to travel and gather and be together as one requires us to get that vaccine," Birx said. "You can see from the measles data that when everybody gets vaccinated, you can control and eliminate disease but if parts of the country decide not to get vaccinated, that will always be the part that's available to spread the virus."
Until that happens, she says we should continue to wear a mask, physically distance and reduce any indoor gatherings.
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