Social Distancing Measures are Slowing the Spread of COVID-19, But Communities Still Need to Do More, Experts Say
As the novel coronavirus has spread around the United States, more states and cities have issued stay-at-home orders and mandatory closures of schools and businesses Preliminary data indicates that some of these social distancing measures have helped to flatten the growth curve of the virus. However, the inconsistency of these directives across states and localities means that some areas will face more severe outbreaks than others — and at different times. Health officials warn that many states are still not doing nearly enough to curb growth of COVID-19 and some states implemented social distancing policies too late to make a significant impact. Georges Benjamin, executive director of the American Public Health Association warns that unless the country forms a more united front against the virus, the effectiveness of social distancing will be limited. “It worked in California, in Seattle, that’s great. … We are a very mobile country and there are still places where they are not doing physical distancing at all,” Benjamin said.
Anthony Fauci, the top US infectious disease expert, among other key health officials, asserts that all states must adopt strong social distancing measures in order to bring the pandemic under control. “I don’t understand why that’s not happening,” Fauci said Thursday. “If you look at what’s going on in this country, I just don’t understand why we’re not doing that. We really should be.”
Full Story: The Hill