Biden Coronavirus Advisor Slams ‘Nuanced’ CDC Holiday Guidelines, Tells Americans To Not Gather For Christmas

Topline

One of President-elect Joe Biden’s coronavirus advisors criticized the CDC for offering advice on how to minimize the risk of travel and gatherings over the holidays with the coronavirus pandemic spreading at an alarming rate nationwide, saying Thursday, “there is not a safe Christmas party in this country right now.”

Key Facts

Crucial Quote

“We just have to get through this. Please, save a life, particularly the ones you love, and don’t get together for these holiday parties, these holiday events. That’s the very best thing you can do to love someone today,” Osterholm said.

Key Background

The U.S. is beginning to see the surges of coronavirus cases, deaths and hospitalizations experts warned would come after Americans traveled and gathered with other households over Thanksgiving. According to Johns Hopkins University, 3,124 people in the U.S. died from coronavirus Wednesday, the highest daily death toll seen in any country since the beginning of the pandemic and higher than the number of people who were killed in the 9/11 terror attacks. By the end of the year, 30% of Americans will have been infected with the virus, according to Former Food and Drug Administration commissioner Scott Gottlieb, and Biden said the country could expect to see 250,000 more deaths by January. While vaccines have made promising headway, Osterholm warned Thursday they won’t come soon enough to help fight off the spike in infections ahead: Operation Warp Speed’s Lt. Gen. Paul Ostrowski said last week every American who wants a vaccine against the virus will have one by June.

Further Reading

More People Died From Covid-19 In The U.S. On Wednesday Than During 9/11 Attacks (Forbes)

California Shatters National Record (Again) With Over 30,000 New Covid Cases In 1 Day (Forbes)

Avoid Holiday Travel Or Get Tested Twice For Covid-19, CDC Says (Forbes)

Biden Predicts 250,000 More Coronavirus Deaths, Urges Americans To Stay Home Over Holidays (Forbes)