Dr. Scott Gottlieb, former FDA Commissioner and current Pfizer Board Member, was virtually interviewed from Westport on Sunday, 12/21/20, on CBS’ Face the Nation. Dr. Gottlieb, a Westport resident, discussed the predicted spike in cases after the holidays and a mutation currently making headlines in London as the United Kingdom locks-down right before Christmas.

Host Margaret Brennan began the question & answer session by asking Dr. Gottlieb what part the holidays may play in the forecasted strain on the system, saying “the CDC is predicting about 75,000 more deaths during the first week of January.” “We'll see it coming out of this holiday.” Gottlieb answered, adding that “It does seem to be the case that we're on track probably to peak in terms of the number of infections somewhere around the first week in January.” but continued to explain that the hospitalizations and deaths may not peak or another three weeks after the peak number of cases due to a delay in hospitalizations and deaths once infected.

The most recent CDC National Ensemble Forecast of Deaths states that “15,800 to 27,700 new deaths likely to be reported in the week ending January 9, 2021.” (CDC.gov)

Gottlieb also reflected back to the 2020 Thanksgiving holiday, which according to the Associated Press, “the 3 million who went through U.S. airport checkpoints from Friday through Sunday [prior to Thanksgiving] marked the biggest crowds since mid-March, when the COVID-19 crisis took hold in the United States.” (DEE-ANN DURBIN, DAVID KOENIG, Associated Press) According to Gottlieb, the Thanksgiving holiday did cause a spike in cases around the US - citing state-by-state analysis that there was “…anywhere between a 10% to a 40% increase in cases off of the baseline...” He explains that this could have been caused by “…the sheer magnitude of the virus building…” but further explains that “…some of that was a consequence of the gatherings as well, which potentiated more spread…”(Dr. Scott Gottlieb, Face the Nation 12/20/20)

When asked about a coronavirus mutation causing panic in the United Kingdom, Gottlieb said “Well, it's probably not more lethal [than the current coronavirus strain], but we don't fully understand its contours.” and continued to explain that the mutation seems “…more contagious. It doesn't seem to be any more virulent, any more dangerous than run of the mill COVID.” (Face the Nation). Susan Hopkins of Public Health England confirmed to the the BBC that data collected on the mutation shows it is 70% more contagious than the current strain (BBC). London, and much of the United Kingdom, has been placed on a lockdown - with non-essential businesses closing their doors, and protocols that mandate only one member of the household is permitted to visit with any person outside of their household, so long as its outdoors. It’s assumed this was designed to allow citizens to continue to care for ill or aging family members, or to deliver gifts for what will be a very different Christmas for Brits. "Given the early evidence we have on this new variant of the virus — the potential risk it poses — it is with a very heavy heart I must tell you we cannot continue with Christmas as planned,” Boris Johnson made in a statement to the country (NPR).

Coinciding the vaccines being rolled out to the nearby area - as near and as recent as Norwalk Hospital employees reportedly being vaccinated against COVID-19 today - Gottlieb ended his interview with the statement that “we should be leaning forward and trying to get as much vaccine out as possible.”

The State of Connecticut updated its travel advisory guidelines over the weekend ahead of the upcoming holidays. The new guidelines state: “Anyone traveling into Connecticut from a state or territory, other than New York, New Jersey, or Rhode Island, or from a country other than the United States, is directed to self-quarantine for a 10-day period from the time of last contact within the identified state or country.” This 10 day quarantine is for all adults and children, but can be avoided “if the Affected Traveler (1) has had a test for COVID-19 in the seventy-two (72) hours prior to arrival in Connecticut or at any time following arrival in Connecticut, (2) the result of such COVID-19 test is negative, and (3) he or she has provided written proof of such negative test result to the Commissioner of Public Health.”

sources:

CBS’ Face the Nation, BBC's Andrew Marr Show, The Associated Press, NPR, State of Connecticut, CDC.gov