CDC Director "Cautiously Optimistic" As COVID-19 Infections, Hospitalizations and Deaths Decline in U.S.

CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky expresses cautious optimism as the number of COVID-19 infections, hospitalizations, and deaths all trend downward. Since January infections have declined by 76 percent, hospitalizations by 71 percent and deaths by 75 percent. "These trends give me hope," she says. However, Dr. Walensky urges the public to remain vigilant and maintain public health measures and warns that emerging variants could set the country back. She says the CDC will continue to update its guidelines and will follow the science. She also appeals to members of the public who have not been vaccinated to do so as soon as possible to help ensure a return to normalcy. close