FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Media Relations
Statement from APHA Executive Director George C. Benjamin, MD
Each day, each month as we have been hit with this novel coronavirus, we see sobering new numbers.
On Tuesday, U.S. deaths from COVID-19 topped 1,000 in a single day. More than 142,000 people have died in the U.S. so far, and cases have increased in 42 states in the past two weeks.
And now, we’ve reached 4 million cases of the disease in the U.S. It’s hard to believe that we hit 3 million cases only about two weeks ago.
In another two weeks, I don’t want to make another statement about rising illnesses and deaths. Come August, I want to talk about how we’ve dramatically slowed the spread of COVID-19 in the U.S., how fewer people are dying, how our hospitals beds have been emptied. I want to be able to call out leaders who have helped us turn the tide and thank you for helping us get there.
The path to this future is clear: We must maintain physical distancing, wear masks and wash our hands. These are the steps we can and must take to derail the virus.
We can do this together: Wear masks. Maintain distance. Wash our hands. Repeat.
Do it for your family, your friends, your community. Do it so next month we can show the world what the U.S. can do when we all come together.
I’m counting on you to help us get there.
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The American Public Health Association champions the health of all people and all communities. We are the only organization that combines a nearly 150-year perspective, a broad-based member community and the ability to influence federal policy to improve the public’s health. Learn more at www.apha.org.