CDC’s Walensky says ‘fatigue is winning’ in efforts to stop the spread of COVID-19

During the White House COVID-19 response team briefing on Wednesday, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said the public’s “stamina has worn thin” at a critical time in trying to stop the spread of the coronavirus.

Video transcript

ROCHELLE WALENSKY: Today, we are at a critical nexus in the pandemic. So much can turn in the next few weeks. On the one hand, cases in the country are leveling off at rates just on the cusp of potential to resurge, and the B117 hyper transmissible variant looms ready to hijack our successes to date.

And on the other hand, stamina has worn thin, fatigue is winning, and the exact measures we have taken to stop the pandemic are now too often being flagrantly ignored.

All the while, we are just on the verge of capitalizing on the culmination of a historic, scientific success. The ability to vaccinate the country in just a matter of three to four more months. How this plays out is up to us. The next three months are pivotal.

I'm asking you to reach deeply, to protect our nation's health, and to protect your loved ones. Whether mandated or not, as individuals and as communities, we can still take the right public health action to protect ourselves and others, wearing a well fitting mask, avoiding travel and crowds, social distancing, and practicing good hand hygiene.

Now more than ever, we must do all we can to stop the spread of the virus.