“First and foremost, I think we need every state to have a mandatory mask law,” Jha told George Stephanopoulos. While many states do require masks in public by law, there is still a good portion of the country that does not have a mandate in place. “We can’t dither on masks,” Jha said. “I think everyone needs to be wearing one when they’re outside of their home.” Secondly, Jha warned against people gathering indoors, naming indoor bars, restaurants, and night clubs as the main offenders. Currently, a handful of states allow indoor gatherings, and more are nearing phase three of reopening, which generally includes opening indoor bars and restaurants. Some state officials have paused reopening or revoked plans to begin indoor dinning anytime soon, hoping to mitigate the spread within their communities. If all of the states follow suit, the country could be on the road to recovery.ae0fcc31ae342fd3a1346ebb1f342fcb Lastly, Jha insisted, “We’ve got to keep pushing on testing and tracing.” He urged that every state needs to be at the same volume of testing and tracing that ensures they are reporting accurate numbers and contacting anyone who may have been infected to prevent further transmission. He called these methods “our most powerful tools for keeping the virus under control.” RELATED: For more up-to-date information, sign up for our daily newsletter. With a combination of enforcing mandatory mask laws in each state, prohibiting indoor gatherings, and consistent levels of testing and tracing, Jha believes that “we can avoid the fate that Dr. Fauci mentioned.” However, he also projected that if these measures are not put in place, the last resort will have to be locking states down again completely. For more on the current surge, This Is Why Coronavirus Is Skyrocketing in the South, Harvard Doctor Says.
