And from the CDC director, an even more stark warning: ‘Impending doom’

The director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Monday warned of “impending doom” over rising coronavirus cases, telling the public that even though vaccines are being rolled out quickly, a fourth surge could happen if people don’t start taking precautions.

“I’m going to lose the script, and I’m going to reflect on the recurring feeling I have of impending doom. We have so much to look forward to so much promise and potential of where we are, and so much reason for hope. But right now I’m scared,” CDC Director Rochelle Walensky said during a White House briefing Monday.

“We do not have the luxury of inaction,” Walensky added.

The numbers on the rise: Walensky’s warning comes a day after the United States surpassed 30 million cases of COVID-19, and cases are continuing to increase.

According to Walensky, the seven day average of new cases is around 60,000 cases per day, a 10 percent increase over the past week. The numbers are still a far cry from the peak in January, but the rise comes after a sustained period of stagnation.

What’s next: Walensky said she is going to talk to governors tomorrow, and will urge them to reconsider the rush to reopen.