For the first time, the U.S. is showing signs that the curve of coronavirus cases is beginning to level off, members of the Coronavirus Task Force said on Friday. That doesn’t mean the U.S. has necessarily reached the peak.
“It’s really about the encouraging signs that we see but as encouraging as they are, we have not reached the peak. And so every day, we need to continue to do what we did yesterday and the week before and the week before that,” Dr. Deborah Birx told reporters Friday.
But now, Dr. Anthony Fauci said, is not the time to let up on social distancing and other mitigation measures.
Still, a CBS News poll out Friday revealed most Americans continue to think the battle against the pandemic is going badly. Americans appear to have decreasing in confidence in Mr. Trump’s handling of the outbreak response, as the president is seen doing a good job by 47%, down four points from 51% last week and 53% the prior week.
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Another CBS News poll released Friday showed Americans are very concerned about the economic impact of the virus. Over 16 million people have filed unemployment claims over the past three weeks due to the economic fallout of the pandemic.
Meanwhile, Vice President Mike Pence said during Thursday’s coronavirus task force briefing that eligible Americans with direct deposit set up with the IRS will begin to see their checks dispensed under the CARES Act at the end of next week. The average family of four, Pence said, can expect to see roughly $3,400.
Grace Segers contributed to this report.
