As we enter 2021, a Phoenix coronavirus expert foresees advances in the fight against COVID-19.
Dr. Shad Marvasti with the University of Arizona’s College of Medicine is hopeful that the new COVID-19 vaccines will be widely available to the public by late spring to early summer. That means more people will be protected against the virus which has resulted in about 9,000 deaths in the state, according Friday data from the Arizona Department of Health Services.
“Hopefully we’re going to be able to get to that herd immunity by mid-next year, if not a little bit after that depending on how things go," Marvasti said.
One thing that’s currently missing is a national strategy against COVID-19, he said.
“The lack of a national testing strategy, national comprehensive strategy for restricting travel and guidelines on activities that are coordinated throughout the state and local level by national leadership I think is costing us literally thousands of lives," he said.
Marvasti is confident one may be adopted after President-elect Joe Biden takes office later this month. One thing he would like to see a national mask mandate.
Biden has said his administration will ask people to wear masks during the administration’s first 100 days.
