America's window of opportunity to beat back Covid-19 is closing

(MOLLY FERGUSON FOR STAT)

The winter months, with the threat of flu season and a lack of outdoor places to congregate — are looming, but the U.S. still has a window of opportunity to turn its Covid-19 response around before those months hit. The bad news is that that window is quickly closing and the U.S.'s current trajectory — more than 5 million cases and almost 163,000 deaths to date — seems unlikely to change. Instead of suppressing the virus, pandemic-weary Americans have shown themselves to be more interested in resuming pre-Covid lifestyles including opening up schools, frequenting bars and restaurants, and gathering in large groups. “The best time to squash a pandemic is when the environmental characteristics slow transmission," such as during the summer months, epidemiologist Michael Mina tells STAT's Helen Branswell. “We just continue to squander every bit of opportunity we get with this epidemic to get it under control.’’