U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams acknowledged on Sunday that current projections on the coronavirus pandemic are “pretty scary,” but maintained it was still possible to “temper” the current surge of cases.
Appearing on CNN’s “State of the Union,” Adams was asked by host Jake Tapper what Americans should expect in the next few weeks as cases continue to surge and rise.
“What I want people to know is the projections are pretty — pretty scary — but they’re projections, and what we do now matters,” said Adams.
“If you gathered over the holidays, outside of your household without a mask, there are still measures you can take right now. You still can self quarantine, you still can get tested, knowing that greater than 50 percent of the spread now is among people who are asymptomatic. You still can wear a mask, wash your hands and watch your distance.”
“If we do that, we will be able to temper this surge,” added Adams. “I want people to understand that. In the midst of tragedy, I’m still optimistic.”
The U.S. has so far recorded more than 20 million cases of the coronavirus and more than 350,000 deaths. December was the deadliest month in the U.S. since the pandemic began, recording over 63,000 deaths, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.