Former Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Dr. Tom Frieden revealed 'Plain Truths' about COVID-19 in the United States, according to a recently published article.

Former CDC Director and now serves as the President and CEO of Resolve to Save Lives spoke on Wednesday at a House Appropriations Committee hearing about COVID-19. 

Dr. Frieden said: "In my 30 years in global public health, I've never seen anything like this. It's scary. It's unprecedented."

Plain Truths from the House Appropriations Committee Hearing:  

1. COVID-19 is Really Bad in New York City

Among the states in the U.S., New York has the most confirmed cases. According to data from Johns Hopkins University, there are approximately 323,978 cases of COVID-19 and 25,623 total deaths. Moreover, in New York City alone, there are more than 170,000 cases and a death toll of more than 13,000, while more than 43,000 are still in the hospital due to COVID-19 related issues.

Frieden said: "Even now with deaths decreasing substantially, there are twice as many deaths from COVID-19 in New York City as there are on a usual day from all other causes combined."  

2. COVID-19 Has Just Began

Dr. Frieden firmly believes that the pandemic is still in its beginning phase even though the situation, as of today, is getting worse. 

According to two experts, John Barry and Marc Lipsitch, the pandemic could last up to two more years and warned that the situation could get worse than what we have experienced and seen so far. 

3. The Most Powerful Weapon Against the Virus is Data

He said that data could help to stop the outbreak into an epidemic. Dr. John Loannidis, an epidemiologist from Standford University, said that he had found emerging data of the infections of the virus, which are more common than what experts initially thought. He also added that the risk for the average person to die due to the virus is lower compared to its previous projection.

4. Box the Virus In

The stay-at-home policy or measure of the federal government and the state has helped to flatten the curve of COVID-19 infections, most especially in New York and California. However, despite this, an average of 30,000 infections are recorded every day. 

The decision to ease some restrictions in the state while the virus is still around meant increasing the probability of the infection rate. 

5. Finding Balance

Dr. Frieden said that economy should not come at the expense of public health. There should be a balance between the two. Based on data gathered from the CDC, state openings could lead to 30,000 deaths every day by June 1 while that number is more than 100,000 according to data from the Insititute of Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington.

6. Protecting Healthcare Workers and Other Essential Personnel

According to the CDC, more than 9,200 healthcare workers have already been infected with the virus. Dr. Frieden said: "We must protect the health care workers and other essential staff, or the frontline heroes of this war." 

7. Preparedness Must be the Paramount

Dr. Frieden said: "Never again. It is inevitable that there will be future outbreaks. It's not inevitable that we will continue to be so underprepared."