GEE AND URSULA

Virologist: Without vaccine, COVID will likely persist ‘for the long haul’

Jul 9, 2020, 6:05 AM

UW Medicine coronavirus testing...

A COVID-19 test site from by UW Medicine. (UW Medicine, YouTube)

(UW Medicine, YouTube)

With COVID-19 cases again beginning to rise across the United States, Columbia University virologist Dr. Angela Rasmussen is worried that this may soon become the new normal.

Return to school should be ‘part of a larger plan’ to reopen society

“This is something we are going to have to get used to for the long haul,” Dr. Rasmussen told KIRO Radio’s Gee and Ursula Show.

That’s driven by concerns over the Trump administration’s approach to handling the latest surge. Last week, it was revealed that the White House would be shifting toward messaging encouraging Americans to accept the COVID-19 outbreak, rather than seeking to actively mitigate the virus’ spread.

In the days since, the President has threatened to withhold funding for schools opting for virtual learning in the fall.

“Over the weekend, I was very, very concerned when President Trump essentially told us that we need to start getting used to this,” Rasmussen said. “I don’t believe that we have to accept this.”

“We should not be accepting the death of 130,000 Americans — there’s no way that we should accept that,” she added.

Rasmussen warns that without a vaccine, “we’re going to be living under non-normal conditions for quite some time.”

A handful of vaccine trials have entered into phase 3, with the White House targeting late 2020.

Virologist: COVID-19 outbreak hasn’t ‘magically disappeared’

That said, Dr. Rasmussen remains skeptical about an accelerated timeline.

“Just like with any vaccine, you can’t just only throw money at the problem,” she pointed out. “We definitely need to have the manufacturing capabilities to scale up a vaccine very quickly if we want to get it out to everybody. But the reality is, we also need to make sure that any vaccine is safe and effective.”

Listen to the Gee and Ursula Show weekday mornings from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. on KIRO Radio, 97.3 FM. Subscribe to the podcast here.

Gee and Ursula Show

Gee and Ursula

Image: Photo of "The Ascent" by Larry Anderson...

Julia Dallas

‘Gee and Ursula’: Bonney Lake mayor search reveals ‘tea’ on candidate

The City of Bonney Lake is searching for a new mayor after the former mayor accepted a job with the Puyallup Tribe of Indians.

2 hours ago

Both President Joe Biden and Republican Donald Trump have locked the nomination for their respectiv...

Bill Kaczaraba

Medved: ‘People didn’t really know (or care) there was a primary’

Medved believes that people are unhappy with their choices during this presidential cycle.

2 days ago

Photo: The homeless encampment outside city hall is being moved around Burien to another home at Do...

Ursula Reutin

Ursula: The Burien homeless crisis highlights an even bigger problem

Because of the lack of alternatives, the King County Sheriff has ordered her deputies to not enforce a camping ban in Burien.

6 days ago

court gavel...

Bill Kaczaraba

Gee & Ursula: Should judges be elected or appointed?

Gee & Ursula take on an age-old question: Should judges be elected or appointed? This comes after a case involving Judge Pooja Vaddadi.

11 days ago

...

MyNorthwest Video

Video: Denver Cuts Russell Wilson

Gee Scott joins Seattle Morning News and reacts to Russell Wilson being cut from the Denver Broncos. 📷: Cooper Neill Listen to the Seattle’s Morning News w/ Dave Ross & Colleen O’Brien Show every weekday at 5am on KIRO Newsraio 97.3 FM Listen to the Gee and Ursula Show every weekday at 9am on KIRO […]

13 days ago

...

MyNorthwest Video

Video: Do We Need Algebra 2?

Does Algebra 2 still need to be taught in schools? A study showed that just 11% of jobs in the U.S. require some understanding of Algebra 2 concepts, and only 6% of people regularly use advanced algebraic operations. What do you think? Should Algebra still be a mandatory class? Listen to the Gee and Ursula […]

14 days ago

Virologist: Without vaccine, COVID will likely persist ‘for the long haul’