‘We wait and more people die’: Public health officials worried not enough people self-quarantining

Public health experts said they’re worried not enough people are staying at home to prevent the spread of COVID-19 to flatten the curve and prevent the spread of the disease.

“The time to act is now,” pandemic threat expert Dr. Dena Grayson said. “We wait and more people die.”

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Grayson previously helped develop a treatment for the Ebola virus. She said she’s concerned a lot of Americans aren’t taking the need to slow the spread of COVID-19 seriously.

“I think anyone that criticizes public health officials for shutting down large venues, for closing schools, I think that all they need to do is look at China and look at Italy,” Grayson said.

In Italy, there are still thousands of new cases a day and now, nearly 500 deaths a day. Normal life has shut down.

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In parts of Florida, people are still around and out, and defying recommendations to stay inside.

“If even 10 to 15% of the population decides that what they’re doing today is more important than the health and welfare of the rest of Americans, they can spread the virus in a very strong way,” Grayson said.

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