February 5 coronavirus news
CNNThere is some encouraging news in the fight against Covid-19 as more vaccines are being distributed and several states announced they will ease certain coronavirus restrictions amid decreasing case levels and hospitalizations, but despite the promising developments experts insist Americans need to remain cautious, especially with the arrival of differing variants in the United States. The two states joined New Jersey, which on Wednesday announced it will ease indoor gathering limits and lift the 10 p.m. curfew for restaurants, citing decreasing Covid-19 spreading rates and hospitalization rates. Andrew Cuomo announced that if the coronavirus positivity rate continued to decline – as of Jan. 29 the rate was at 4.6%, the lowest since Nov. 28 – the state could resume indoor dining at 25% capacity beginning February 14. Despite the hopeful news, experts insist Americans need to remain cautious: The emergence of these virus mutations – first detected in the United Kingdom, South Africa and Brazil, respectively – could mean another surge in cases, according to Dr. Michael Osterholm, director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota.