Sunday shows – Surgeon general in the spotlight as delta variant spreads
by The Hill staff
Surgeon General Vivek Murthy appeared on multiple political interview shows Sunday morning amid an increase in COVID-19 cases driven by the highly contagious delta variant.
Murthy said he is “worried for what is to come” in the pandemic.
He also discussed misinformation surrounding the virus and vaccines, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s lifting of mask guidance, a decision that has been criticized recently.
“I am worried about what is to come because we are seeing increasing cases among the unvaccinated in particular. And while if you are vaccinated you are very well protected against hospitalization and death, unfortunately that is not true if you are not vaccinated,” Surgeon General Vivek Murthy told host Dana Bash on CNN’s “State of the Union.”
“We are still seeing a proliferation of misinformation online, and we know that health misinformation harms people’s health. It costs them their lives,” Surgeon General Vivek Murthy said.
“I think the CDC’s guidance around masks was intended actually to give flexibility to individuals and to localities, recognizing that in this next phase of the pandemic, as we move into more of a local and regional response based on people’s vaccination rates and communities, that that guidance around what to do with mitigation measures like masks would also be tailored locally,” Surgeon General Vivek Murthy said.
Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda Solis said in an interview on Sunday that a reimposed mask mandate in indoor public spaces is “not punishment,” but “prevention.”
Americans are growing increasingly concerned about the delta variant of the coronavirus and are split along party lines on President Biden’s handling of the new strain, according to a new poll.
“When it comes to decriminalization, I don’t think that there is value to individuals or to society to lock people up for marijuana use. I don’t think that serves anybody well,” Surgeon General Vivek Murthy said.
Republican Sen. Rob Portman (Ohio) criticized the decision to set a preliminary vote on the bipartisan infrastructure bill for Wednesday, calling the date an “arbitrary deadline.”
Republican Sen. Rob Portman (Ohio) on Sunday said the bipartisan infrastructure bill will not include improving IRS enforcement of existing laws as a way to fund the new investments.
