Tag: Michael Osterholm

Infectious diseases expert: COVID variants are a “whole new ballgame”

Axios logo

The U.S. is playing a “whole new ballgame” in terms of controlling the coronavirus now that variants are spreading across the country, Michael Osterholm, director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, told CBS News on Friday.

Why it matters: Osterholm said the U.S. could face another surge from the B.1.1.7 variant, which was first identified in the United Kingdom and has since been detected throughout the U.S. Multiple studies have suggested that it likely spreads more easily than the original strain of the virus.

What they’re saying: “We are, I think for the moment, in the eye of a hurricane with regard to the good news, the vaccine’s coming, but the big challenge [is] with this new variant that has arrived here from Europe,” Osterholm told CBS News. Continue reading.

House Health Committee receives update COVID-19 update from Dr. Osterholm, discusses Rep. Wolgamott’s proposed public health investments

House DFL logo

SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA – Today, the House Health Finance & Policy Committee received an update on COVID-19 from Dr. Michael Osterholm, world-renowned epidemiologist and Director of the University of Minnesota’s Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy. The committee also discussed the important role of local public health in combating the pandemic and considered legislation to boost investments in local public health grants.

Dr. Osterholm shared several concerns regarding the virus with the committee, including the emergence of new COVID-19 variants that could mean the worst of the pandemic is still in front of us. Noting that the first doses of the vaccine has been greatly effective, he discussed the possibility of adapting to a first-dose priority plan for those ages 65 or older, postponing the second dose for those patients. He also stressed the importance of continued mask wearing, physical distancing and avoiding crowds, and discussed the need for individuals to protect their mental health.

“We’ve recently seen key COVID-19 metrics, including case counts and hospitalizations, trend downward, but as Dr. Osterholm told us, we aren’t out of the woods yet,” said Rep. Tina Liebling (DFL – Rochester), Chair of the Health Finance and Policy Committee. “As Minnesota continues vaccinating our residents, we must all remain vigilant against the virus – particularly as new variants emerge – to continue making progress and get through the pandemic as quickly as possible.”

Continue reading “House Health Committee receives update COVID-19 update from Dr. Osterholm, discusses Rep. Wolgamott’s proposed public health investments”

Rep. Dean Phillips TeleTownhall with Dr. Osterholm

Image

Dear Neighbors,

I’m checking in as COVID-19 cases are surging, mask mandates are going into effect, and Congress is debating another relief package. I know that Minnesotans have questions and concerns about how we’re going to get through this pandemic as healthy, economically sound, and prepared for the future as possible. That’s why I’m inviting YOU to join my fourth free and open-to-the-public Dial-In With Dean by calling 855-927-0897 on Monday, August 3rd at 6:15 pm CST.

We’ll be joined by Dr. Michael Osterholm, an outstanding epidemiologist and Director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota. Together, we’ll answer your questions, talk through your criticisms, and gather your feedback about Minnesota – and America’s – response to the pandemic. Continue reading “Rep. Dean Phillips TeleTownhall with Dr. Osterholm”

U of M’s Dr. Michael Osterholm discusses the future of the coronavirus pandemic

Osterholm has been preaching what he calls “straight talk” about the pandemic.

While much uncertainty remains over the COVID-19 pandemic, the scenario that University of Minnesota infectious disease expert Dr. Michael Osterholm would prefer to avoid is a situation in which the disease backs off over the summer, before exploding again in the fall.

“This may sound terribly insensitive and I surely don’t mean it to be, but as I have said before, I would actually be much more concerned if over the course of the next 4-6 weeks around the world we saw the virus activity begin to drop somewhat precipitously,” Osterholm said on the Osterholm Update, a podcast for the Center For Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP).

“If that’s the case, I think we have much more of a reasonable [chance] that this could be an influenza-like pandemic experience, where as we saw in the early waves and all of the other influenza pandemics in the last 250 years, sporadic activity around the world and then have the virus suddenly disappear for anywhere from 2-4 months and then come back with vengeance in a large wave. That would make me nervous.” Continue reading.