Dr. Robert Redfield, director of the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), told Congress that coronavirus has “brought this nation to its knees” as America battles with more than 2.3 million confirmed cases and more than 121,000 deaths till date.
He said that core public health capabilities in the US had been hugely unfunded for a long time and needed urgent investment.
Redfield informed the House energy and commerce committee that the best had been done to tackle this virus but the reality is that it has brought the nation to its knees. He also said that probably $7tn would be spent because of one little virus.
Redfield added that the US at local, state and federal levels has underinvested in the core capabilities of public health. This includes data analysis, capabilities to respond to emergency, “laboratory resilience”, the public health workforce, and global health security across the world. He said that now it is time to step up funding.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, the US’s top infectious disease expert ensured that the country will be doing more Covid-19 testing.
Fauci, a part of the White House coronavirus task force, discussed with the committee along with Redfield, head of the Food and Drug Administration, Stephen Hahn; and Brett Giroir, top official at the Department of Health and Human Services.
Fauci said that the state of coronavirus in the US was a “mixed bag”, in part due to the country’s huge size and diversity.
He also said that some areas like New York City had performed well by following government’s guidelines for reopening, but said that the disturbing surge in infections in other parts of the country was a point of concern. The next few weeks are going to be critical while addressing these surges, said Fauci citing the increase in cases in Florida, Texas and Arizona.
If the COVID-19 and flu activity overlap, it could burden the healthcare system related to bed occupancy, personal protective equipment, laboratory testing needs and health care worker safety, as mentioned in a statement.