FDA Commissioner: ‘Most People’ Will Get Covid-19 Amid Record Surge
Derek Saul Source: Forbes.com EducationListen to article
TOPLINE
Janet Woodcock, the acting commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration, said Tuesday that “most people are going to get Covid” amid a record surge being fueled by the spread of the omicron variant of coronavirus in the country.
Dr. Janet Woodcock, acting commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration, speaks during a Senate … [+]ASSOCIATED PRESS
KEY FACTS
Ahead of a hearing of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, Woodcock suggested that instead of focusing on stopping community transmission, the federal government should seek to ensure “continuity of operations” in hospitals, public transportation and other essential businesses as the virus causes significant labor shortages.
BIG NUMBER
1.48 million. That’s how many new coronavirus cases were reported by the U.S. on Monday – a record – according to Johns Hopkins University data, up more than 700% from the same day two weeks ago.
KEY BACKGROUND
Woodcock’s comments come amid understaffing issues among healthcare workers nationwide. According to Department of Health and Human Services data, as of Saturday, more than 25% of hospitals in 18 states were suffering from severe shortages of doctors, nurses and other medical workers. The CDC recommended last month that healthcare workers with non-serious symptoms can return to work five days after a Covid-19 infection, and later updated its guidelines to cut the isolation period following infection to five days for all asymptomatic people.