What Does It Mean to You When the CDC Uses the Term ‘Impending Doom’ Regarding the Pandemic?

Cases of COVID-19 have been up (way up, at times), they’ve plateaued, and they’ve gone down. Then up and down again. At no time, however, has a federal health official employed a word as dramatic as “doom” to describe the prospects of what comes next—until this week. Rochelle Walensky, MD, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said pointblank that the United States is looking at “impending doom” as the current increase in cases, as well as hospitalizations and deaths, coincides with ongoing loosening of social distancing and other safety measures. Her point, she said, was not to cause panic but to emphasize the need to wear masks and keep a healthy distance away from others in public when possible regardless of what’s required by a given state. This should serve as a reminder that the urgent care community is in a position to test proactively, report test results responsibly, recommend self-quarantine with any potential COVID-19 symptoms and, supplies permitting, to administer COVID-19 vaccines to as many patients as possible. Ensure your team is onboard, as well.