The country needs to fall below 10,000 cases per day for some semblance of pre-pandemic life, according to White House chief medical advisor Dr. Anthony Fauci.
The US reported an average of 83,500 new Covid cases every day over the last week, a 14 percent increase from the week before, according to a CNBC analysis. Fauci said in an interview that the Covid cases may need to fall as low as 3,300 per day for the nation to gain control over the virus.
Since March 2020, the daily infections in the US have not been below 10,000.
Fauci said that if we can get well below 10,000, it would be acceptable to get back to normal. I have to warn you that these are estimates and not definitive statements.
The number of covid cases in the U.S. peaked at between 70,000 and 75,000 per day for almost three weeks. Fauci said that the U.S. could be in for some trouble heading into the winter without taking proper public health precautions.
Fauci said in an interview Monday night on "The News with Shepard Smith" that 60 million unvaccinated adults are fueling the latest increase. He said Tuesday that booster shots would help counter new cases, hospitalizations and the waning immunity of current Covid vaccines over time.
If Covid cases remain elevated in the U.S., the more-contagious delta variant will thrive.
Fauci said that the unvaccinated are highly vulnerable, but as long as there is a high dynamic of virus in the population, you will start seeing breakthrough infections.
The unimmunized, boosters for the vaccine and facial coverings in indoor settings could help keep the virus at bay and avoid the type of outbreak currently afflicting Europe, Fauci said. The World Health Organization blames decreased use of masks and social distance for a surge in Covid cases on the African continent.
The data shows that certain regions are driving up infections more than others. The weekly average of daily new cases per capita increased in the Midwest and Northeast as of Monday, compared to the South and West.
CNBC's Nathan Rattner contributed to the report.
