Dr. Tom Frieden: Covid-19 continues to be round, and so are these misconceptions

kAm{@?8 r@G:5 27764ED >2?J A6@A=6[ 2?5[ 2?2=@8@FD=J[ :?4C62D65 A@=2C:K2E:@? 2?5 5:DECFDE 😀 2 =:?86C:?8 =:76E9C62E6?:?8 27E6C67764E @7 E96 A2?56>:4]ok^Am

kAmpercent96 G:CFD E92E 42FD6D r@G:5 6>6C865 2E E96 6?5 @7 a_`h] (6 4@?E:?F6 E@ =62C? >@C6 23@FE :E 6G6CJ 52J] %96 G:CFD[ 2?5 @FC :>>F?6 C6DA@?D6 E@ :E[ 4@?E:?F6 E@ 6G@=G6[ 2D 5@ @FC <?@H=6586 2?5 F?56CDE2?5:?8] tG6CJ@?6 >256 >:DE2<6D] vF:52?46 H2D 25;FDE65 2?5 C6G:D65 2D H6 =62C?65 >@C6] qFE AF3=:4 962=E9 24E:@? k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]HD;]4@>^2CE:4=6D^H92EH@C<65282:?DE4@G:5>2D<D4=@DFC6D2?5G244:?6D277a3274QmD2G65 >:==:@?D @7 =:G6Dk^2m]ok^Am

kAmpercent9C66 H:56=J 96=5 >:D4@?46AE:@?D C67=64E 2?5 4@?EC:3FE6 E@ A@=2C:K2E:@?] u@C 6249[ E96C6’D 2 <6C?6= @7 ECFE9 E92E 2AA62CD E@ DFAA@CE E96 >:D4@?46AE:@?[ 3FE E96 C62=:EJ 😀 4=62C]ok^Am

k9ams:5 r@G:5 C62==J <:== ` >:==:@? p>6C:42?Dnk^9am

kAm*6D]ok^Am

kAmx’== ?6G6C 7@C86E[ 62C=J 😕 E96 A2?56>:4[ E96 D@F?5D @7 4@?DE2?E D:C6?D 😕 }6H *@C< r:EJ] w@DA:E2=D H6C6 @G6CH96=>65] |2?J @7 FD =@DE 7C:6?5D[ A2C6?ED[ 8C2?5A2C6?ED[ 4@H@C<6CD]ok^Am

kAm(92E’D E96 <6C?6= @7 ECFE9 E@ E96 >:D4@?46AE:@? E92E r@G:5 5:5?’E <:== 2 >:==:@? p>6C:42?Dn $@>6 A6@A=6 H9@D6 562E9D H6C6 42E68@C:K65 2D r@G:5 >2J 92G6 5:65 7C@> @E96C 4@?5:E:@?D[ DF49 2D 2 962CE 2EE24<[ H9:49 >2J @C >2J ?@E 92G6 366? EC:886C65 3J r@G:5] %9:D 😀 E96 5:776C6?46 36EH66? 562E9D “7C@>” r@G:5 2?5 562E9D “H:E9” r@G:5] t2C=J 😕 E96 A2?56>:4[ H96? ?@ @?6 925 :>>F?:EJ[ E96C6 H6C6 ?@ 67764E:G6 EC62E>6?ED 2?5 H6 5:5?’E <?@H 9@H E@ 42C6 7@C A6@A=6 >@DE 67764E:G6=J[ ?62C=J 2== E96 A6@A=6 H9@ 925 2 A@D:E:G6 r@G:5 E6DE 2?5 5:65 H6C6 <:==65 3J r@G:5] %@52J[ >@DE A6@A=6 H9@ 92G6 2 A@D:E:G6 E6DE 7@C r@G:5 92G6 :>>F?:EJ E92E =:>:ED E96:C 92C> 7C@> r@G:5 2?5 D@>6 5:6 7C@> F?56C=J:?8 4@?5:E:@?D DF49 2D 42?46C @C 962CE 5:D62D6]ok^Am

kAmpercent96 8@=5 DE2?52C5 E@ 56E6C>:?6 E96 ECF6 :>A24E @7 E96 A2?56>:4 😀 E@ =@@< 2E 6I46DD 562E9Di 9@H >2?J >@C6 A6@A=6 5:65 E92? 6IA64E65 32D65 @? A2DE EC6?5D] %9:D 😀 2 4@>A=6I 4@?46AE[ 3FE E96C6’D 2 D:>A=6 H2J E@ F?56CDE2?5 :E] x? E96 E9C66 J62CD 7C@> a_`f E@ a_`h[ E96C6 H6C6 23@FE g]d >:==:@? E@E2= 562E9D 😕 E96 &$] x? E96 E9C66 J62CD @7 E96 A2?56>:4[ a_a_ E@ a_aa[ E96C6 H6C6 23@FE `_]` >:==:@? 562E9D – 2 962CE3C62<:?8 :?4C62D6 @7 `]e >:==:@? 562E9D] pD (:==:2> u2CC HC@E6 >@C6 E92? 2 46?EFCJ 28@[ “%96 562E9 C2E6 😀 2 724E] tG6CJE9:?8 6=D6 😕 2? :?76C6?46]”ok^Am

kAmpercent9C66 :?56A6?56?E 2?2=JD6D — 3J E96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]H9@]:?E^52E2^DE@C:6D^E96ECF6562E9E@==@74@G:5`h6DE:>2E:?88=@32=6I46DD>@CE2=:EJQm(@C=5 w62=E9 ~C82?:K2E:@?ok^2m[ E96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]962=E952E2]@C8^C6D62C492?2=JD:D^=:3C2CJ^6DE:>2E:?86I46DD>@CE2=:EJ5F64@G:5`hA2?56>:4DJDE6>2E:42?2=JD:DQmx?DE:EFE6 7@C w62=E9 |6EC:4D 2?5 tG2=F2E:@?ok^2m 2?5 E96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]64@?@>:DE]4@>^8C2A9:456E2:=^4@C@?2G:CFD6I46DD562E9D6DE:>2E6DQmt4@?@>:DEk^2m — 4@>6 E@ 2 D:>:=2C 4@?4=FD:@?[ E92E H:E9:? E96 7:CDE E9C66 J62CD 8=@32==J[ >@C6 E92? 2 >:==:@? A6@A=6 5:65 😕 E96 &$ 2?5 a_ >:==:@? A6@A=6 5:65 8=@32==J 😕 6I46DD @7 EC6?5D]ok^Am

kAmp=E9@F89 ?@E 2== E96D6 6I46DD 562E9D H6C6 7C@> r@G:5 :?764E:@?[ E96 G2DE >2;@C:EJ H6C6[ 2?5 E96 C6DE H6C6 42FD65 3J E96 5:DCFAE:@? E@ 962=E9 42C6 D6CG:46D E92E E96 A2?56>:4 4C62E65]ok^Am

k9ampC6 G244:?6D AC@G6? E@ D2G6 =:G6Dnk^9am

kAm*6D]ok^Am

kAmr@G:5 G244:?6D AC@323=J D2G65 2E =62DE d__[___ =:G6D 😕 E96 &$ — 2?5 A@DD:3=J EH:46 E92E >2?J — 2?5 D6G6C2= >:==:@? =:G6D 2C@F?5 E96 H@C=5]ok^Am

kAmxE’D 62DJ E@ E2<6 G244:?6D 7@C 8C2?E65] qFE E96 56G6=@A>6?E @7 D276[ 67764E:G6 G244:?6D 7@C r@G:5 H2D ?6G6C 2 DFC6 E9:?8] %96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]H9@]:?E^52E2^89@^52E2^E96>6D^9:G2:5DQm5625=:6DE A2?56>:4 😕 @FC =:76E:>6 😀 wx’ok^2m[ 2?5 H6 DE:== 5@?’E 92G6 2 G244:?6 7@C :E]ok^Am

kAmpD E96 4@C@?2G:CFD 92D 6G@=G65 E@ 6D42A6 :>>F?:EJ[ E96 67764E:G6?6DD 2?5 5FC23:=:EJ @7 @FC G244:?6D 92D E2<6? 2 9:E[ H9:49 😀 H9J FA52E65 G6CD:@?D @7 E96 G244:?6 2C6 ?66565 E@ C6:?7@C46 AC@E64E:@?]ok^Am

kAm|#}p  E649?@=@8J 5:5?’E 4@>6 @FE @7 ?@H96C6] xE’D 366? 😕 56G6=@A>6?E 7@C >@C6 E92? E9C66 564256D[ 2 E6DE2>6?E E@ E96 92C5 H@C< 2?5 565:42E:@? @7 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]?@36=AC:K6]@C8^AC:K6D^>65:4:?6^a_ab^AC6DDC6=62D6^Qm?6H }@36= !C:K6 H:??6CD sCD] z2E2=:? z2C:<@ 2?5 sC6H (6:DD>2?ok^2m] (6 H6C6 =F4<J E92E :E H2D C625J H:E9:? 2 J62C @7 E96 6>6C86?46 @7 r@G:5]ok^Am

kAm(92E’D E96 <6C?6= @7 ECFE9 369:?5 E9:D >:D4@?46AE:@?n |2?J r@G:5 :?764E:@?D[ 6G6? @7 A6@A=6 H9@ 2C6 @=56C @C >65:42==J GF=?6C23=6[ 2C6 >:=5] ~G6C2==[ 23@FE `hh @7 a__ :?764E:@?D 5@?’E 42FD6 72E2= :==?6DD] p?5 :?764E:@?D 2>@?8 J@F?86C A6@A=6 2C6 >F49 =6DD =:<6=J E@ 36 D6G6C6]ok^Am

kAmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]4@>>@?H62=E97F?5]@C8^3=@8^a_aa^:>A24EFD4@G:5`hG244:?2E:@?677@CED>2C49FA52E6Qm$EF5Jk^2m 27E6C k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]454]8@G^>>HC^G@=F>6D^f`^HC^>>f“d6`]9E>nD04:5l>>f“d6`0HQmDEF5Jk^2m AC@G6D E96 36?67:ED @7 r@G:5 G244:?2E:@?[ H9:49 C65F46D E96 C:D< @7 562E9 3J 2E =62DE fdT[ 2?5 3J >@C6 E92? h_T 😕 E96 >@?E9D :>>65:2E6=J 27E6C G244:?2E:@?] p=E9@F89 2== 286 8C@FAD 36?67:E 7C@> G244:?2E:@?[ E96 8C@FAD E92E 92G6 E96 8C62E6DE 36?67:E 2C6 E9@D6 2E 9:896DE C:D< @7 D6G6C6 r@G:5i A6@A=6 @G6C ed 2?5 E9@D6 H:E9 F?56C=J:?8 >65:42= 4@?5:E:@?D DF49 2D H62<6?65 :>>F?6 DJDE6>D]ok^Am

kAmx7 r@G:5 😀 >F49 >@C6 5625=J E@ E96 6=56C=J[ H9J D9@F=5 J@F?8 A6@A=6 3@E96C E@ 86E G244:?2E65n $9@F=5 E96 &$ r6?E6CD 7@C s:D62D6 r@?EC@= 2?5 !C6G6?E:@? 92G6 C64@>>6?565 E92E @?=J E96 6=56C=J 86E G244:?2E65n %96 rsr’D p5G:D@CJ r@>>:EE66 @? x>>F?:K2E:@? !C24E:46D 😀 2 8=@32= 36DE AC24E:46 7@C 56G6=@A:?8 G244:?6 C64@>>6?52E:@?D] xE’D EC2?DA2C6?Ej 6G6CJ AC6D6?E2E:@? 2?5 5:D4FDD:@? 😀 AF3=:4] xE’D :?DF=2E65 7C@> :?5FDECJ :?E6C76C6?46] p?5 :E 3C:?8D E@86E96C E96 H@C=5’D E@A 6IA6CED E@ >2<6 C64@>>6?52E:@?D 32D65 @? E96 36DE BF2=:EJ 6G:56?46 2G2:=23=6]ok^Am

kAmqFC:65 @? D=:56D ee 2?5 ef @7 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]454]8@G^G244:?6D^24:A^>66E:?8D^5@H?=@25D^D=:56Da_ab_h`a^“r~’xs(2==246d_g]A57QmE9:D AC6D6?E2E:@?ok^2m 7C@> E96 >@DE C646?E prx! >66E:?8 😀 E96 3@EE@> =:?6i ‘244:?2E:?8 @?=J A6@A=6 @G6C ed H@F=5[ 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 36DE 52E2 2G2:=23=6[ C6DF=E 😕 a__[___ >@C6 9@DA:E2=:K2E:@?D 2?5 `d[___ >@C6 562E9D @G6C E96 ?6IE EH@ J62CD E92? G244:?2E:?8 6G6CJ@?6] x’G6 46CE2:?=J >256 DFC6 E92E 6G6CJ@?6 😕 >J 72>:=J[ :?4=F5:?8 >J hcJ62C@=5 >@E96C 2?5 `hJ62C@=5 D@?[ 8@E 2 G244:?6 E9:D 72==]ok^Am

kAm!2CE @7 E96 D<6AE:4:D> 23@FE G244:?6 C64@>>6?52E:@?D 😀 E96 C6DF=E[ x 36=:6G6[ @7 :?2AAC@AC:2E6 DE2E6>6?ED 3J E96 rt~D @7 |@56C?2 2?5 !7:K6C] ‘244:?6 >2?F724EFC6CD D9@F=5 AC@5F46 D276 2?5 67764E:G6 G244:?6D 2?5 DFAA@CE E96 C6D62C49 E@ 5@4F>6?E E9:D] ‘244:?6 C64@>>6?52E:@?D ?665 E@ 36 >256 — 2=H2JD 2?5 @?=J — 3J :?5:G:5F2=D 2?5 8C@FAD E92E 92G6 ?@ 7:?2?4:2= :?E6C6DE 😕 E96 C64@>>6?52E:@? 36:?8 7@==@H65]ok^Am

k9ams@ >2D<D H@C<nk^9am

kAm*6D]ok^Am

kAm|2D<D 92G6 366? FD65 😕 >65:42= D6EE:?8D E@ AC6G6?E C6DA:C2E@CJ :?764E:@?D 7@C 2 46?EFCJ] %96C6’D 2 C62D@? H9J DFC86@?D H62C E96> 367@C6 @A6C2E:?8i %96J H@C<]ok^Am

kAmpercent96 6G:56?46 😀 4=62C] |J 4@==628F6D 2?5 x k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^;2>2?6EH@C<]4@>^;@FC?2=D^;2>2?6EH@C<@A6?^7F==2CE:4=6^ag“`beQm6I2>:?65 >@C6 E92? c_ DEF5:6D @? >2D<D H:E9 D6G6? 5:776C6?E >6E9@5@=@8:6Dk^2m 2?5 7@F?5 E92E >2D<D C65F46 E96 C:D< @7 DAC625:?8 r@G:5 2?5 @7 36:?8 :?764E65 H:E9 :E]ok^Am

kAm|2D<D A=2J EH@ C@=6Di %96J C65F46 E96 2>@F?E @7 G:CFD C6=62D65 :?E@ E96 2:C 7C@> A6@A=6 H:E9 r@G:5 WD@FC46 4@?EC@=X[ 2?5 E96J AC@E64E D@>6@?6 7C@> :?92=:?8 E96 G:CFD 7C@> E96 2:C WA6CD@?2= AC@E64E:@?X]ok^Am

kAm(92E’D E96 <6C?6= @7 ECFE9 E@ E96 >:D4@?46AE:@? E92E >2D<D 5@?’E H@C<n %96J’C6 ?@E A6C764E] |F49 EC2?D>:DD:@? @44FCD 😕 A=246D – =:<6 9@>6D – H96C6 >2D<D 2C6 C2C6=J H@C?] p?5 :>A6C764E=J 7:EE:?8 >2D<D 5@?’E AC@E64E 67764E:G6=J] %96 5:DE:?4E:@? 36EH66? D@FC46 4@?EC@= 2?5 A6CD@?2= AC@E64E:@? 92D?’E 366? H6== F?56CDE@@5] p A6CD@? H9@ H62CD 2 >2D< 2?5 AC@E64ED @E96CD 7C@> :?764E:@? >2J ?6G6C <?@H E92E E96J 92G6 AC@E64E65 @E96CD] p?5 2 A6CD@? H9@ H62CD 2 >2D<[ 3FE ?@E 4@?D:DE6?E=J @C ?@E H6==7:EE:?8[ H@?’E 36 H6== AC@E64E65]ok^Am

kAmu24E@CD DF49 2D 9@H :?E6?D6=J E96 G:CFD 😀 DAC625:?8[ 😕 H9:49 D6EE:?8D :E’D DAC625:?8 WDF49 2D :?5@@CD H:E9 A@@C G6?E:=2E:@?X[ H92E AC@A@CE:@? @7 A6@A=6 2C6 H62C:?8 >2D<D[ 2?5 9@H 4@?D:DE6?E=J E96J’C6 36:?8 H@C? 255 4@>A=6I:EJ E@ E96 BF6DE:@? @7 9@H >F49 AC@E64E:@? >2D<D AC@G:56 2?5 H96?]ok^Am

kAm|2D<H62C:?8 😀 4CF4:2= 7@C D@FC46 4@?EC@= 3642FD6 2AAC@I:>2E6=J 92=7 @7 E96 C:D< @7 DAC625:?8 r@G:5 @44FCD H96? :?764E65 A6@A=6 766= 7:?6[ 6:E96C 367@C6 E96J 364@>6 :== @C 3642FD6 E96J ?6G6C 56G6=@A DJ>AE@>D]ok^Am

kAmu@C A6CD@?2= AC@E64E:@?[ 2 9:89BF2=:EJ >2D< DF49 2D 2? }hd @C z}hd 42? AC@E64E E96 H62C6C[ A2CE:4F=2C=J :7 :E 7:ED H6== 2?5 😀 H@C? 4@?D:DE6?E=J 😕 4C@H565 :?5@@C DA246D H96C6 6IA@DFC6 E@ r@G:5 @7E6? @44FCD]ok^Am

k9ampercent96 3@EE@> =:?6k^9am

kAmpercent96C6’D 2 =@E 23@FE D4:6?46 2?5 >65:4:?6 E92E H6 5@?’E <?@H[ 2?5 H6’== =62C? >@C6 😕 E96 4@>:?8 >@?E9D 2?5 J62CD] qFE H6 5@ <?@H H:E9 2 9:89 568C66 @7 46CE2:?EJ E92E >@C6 E92? ` >:==:@? p>6C:42?D 5:65 7C@> r@G:5[ E92E r@G:5 G244:?6D D2G6 =:G6D 2?5 E92E >2D<D C65F46 E96 C:D< @7 :?764E:@?]ok^Am

kAmpercent96 DE2<6D 2C6 9:89] r=62C 4@>>F?:42E:@? 23@FE H92E H6 5@ 2?5 5@ ?@E <?@H[ H96? H6 <?@H :E 2?5 9@H H6 <?@H :E 42? 96=A C63F:=5 ECFDE 😕 @FC 962=E9 42C6 2?5 AF3=:4 962=E9 DJDE6>D 2?5 😕 D@4:6EJ >@C6 3C@25=J] p?5 ECFDE 😀 2 4CF4:2= :?8C65:6?E E@ 7:?5[ DE@A 2?5 AC6G6?E 962=E9 E9C62ED]ok^Am

kAmpercent96r}}(:C6k^Am

kAm™ U2>Aj © a_ab r23=6 }6HD }6EH@C<[ x?4][ 2 (2C?6C qC@D] s:D4@G6CJ r@>A2?J] p== C:89ED C6D6CG65]ok^Am