Why can’t the U.S. get control of COVID-19 infections?
As COVID cases surge, we examine why in the U.S. pandemic response has failed, what we are learning about the virus, and why Pa. needed a mask mandate.
Listen 49:00Guests: Jennifer Nuzzo, John Wherry, Rachel Levine
Five months into the pandemic, coronavirus cases continue to surge around the country. All but a handful of states are seeing infection rates rising. While most European and many Asian countries have COVID-19 under control, the U.S. has been unable to keep the virus in check. Why has the U.S. failed at containing the coronavirus? And what are we learning about the virus that could help reduce infections and deaths. We’ll talk about Johns Hopkins epidemiologist JENNIFER NUZZO and with University of Pennsylvania immunologist JOHN WHERRY. But first, Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf has ordered a mask mandate for residents outside their homes. We’ll speak to Pennsylvania Secretary of Health DR. RACHEL LEVINE about why the mask requirement was necessary and what it means in practice.
WHYY is your source for fact-based, in-depth journalism and information. As a nonprofit organization, we rely on financial support from readers like you. Please give today.