More than 98% of U.S. residents live in an area with “high” or “substantial Covid-19 transmission

More than 98% of U.S. residents now live in an area with a “high” or “substantial” risk of Covid-19 community transmission, up from 19% just a month ago. Meanwhile, the FDA is expecting to authorize coronavirus vaccine booster shots for some immunocompromised people. Dr. Anthony Fauci is the director for the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. He joins AC360 to discuss the recent surge in cases and the anticipated authorization of booster shots. Plus, there are only 368 ICU beds currently available in Texas as the state faces another rise in hospitalization. Gov. Greg Abbott announced that more than 2,500 medical personnel will be deployed to hospitals around the state to help care for the increasing number of Covid-19 patients despite defying science and having issued an executive order prohibiting state governmental entities from requiring mask wearing. Beto O’Rourke is a former U.S. Congressman from Texas and he tells Anderson Cooper “this is a crisis and we need the governor to treat it as such.”

Airdate: August 12, 2021

Guests:

Dr. Anthony Fauci

Beto O’Rourke

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