U.S. COVID-19 “Spikes Like We Have Not Yet Seen” Could Be Coming; Sixth Phase Relief Status
02/01/2021
- The U.S. experienced 95,000+ COVID-19 related deaths in January 2021, its worst month since the pandemic began almost a year ago.
- Some vaccine news is better than people realize, reinforcing the idea that a return to normalcy is coming, eventually.
- Dr. Michael Osterholm warns that COVID-19 related spikes like the U.S. has not yet seen could be 6-14 weeks away due to the impact from the U.K. variant.
- Washington, D.C. lawmakers are discussing details about a $600 billion slimmed-down relief package at the White House today. There is potential for Democrats to go ahead with the budget reconciliation process in order to attain something closer to the $1.9 trillion of relief, which was first proposed by President Biden in the middle of January.
- A new Congressional Budget Office (CBO) report projects the U.S. economy will recover "rapidly," with GDP expected to reach its previous peak in mid-2021 and the U.S. labor market expected to return to its pre-pandemic level in 2024. Views from this analysis could make it more difficult for lawmakers to reach an agreement on a sixth phase of COVID-19 relief.
