Dr. Michael Osterholm says he is most concerned about the UK variant of the coronavirus, which he says is proving to be much more transmissible that the original strain.
"This thing may be anywhere from 20 to 30, to as high as 70% more infectious," Osterholm told WCCO's Chad Hartman Thursday.
Osterholm says they also have data that shows the UK variant causes a 40-50% increase in more severe illness.
"If (the US) follows the same path as other countries have that have had this virus introduced to that country, we typically see a few weeks to 6 or 7 weeks where the virus quietly makes it's way through the countryside, and then you see this huge spike in cases, major spike in cases. Higher than any we've seen to date."
The good news, Osterholm says the current vaccines protect against the UK variant.
