Biden Calls for Mask Mandates, CDC Director Fears 'Impending Doom' From COVID Surge

U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Rochelle Walensky warned at a Monday White House briefing that another surge in COVID-19 cases could become unavoidable as infections rose 10 percent, while President Biden urged a return of mask mandates, reports ABC News . "We have so much to look forward to, so much promise and potential of where we are, and so much reason for hope," Walensky declared. "But right now, I'm scared." She has repeatedly warned that the nation would face another COVID-19 spike if Americans did not continue to wear masks, avoid travel, and maintain social distancing until more of the population is inoculated. Biden echoed Walensky's concerns at an event announcing more vaccine eligibility, calling for "every governor, mayor, and local leader to maintain and reinstate the mask mandate — please." Walensky said the CDC is witnessing increasing numbers of new COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations, which she blamed on more travel in recent weeks, lifting restrictions, and looser behavior. "I think we are seeing that many of these states are opening up at levels that we wouldn't necessarily recommend," she stated. Walensky empathized with the many Americans impatient to return to normal, but pleaded at the briefing, "just hold on a little longer to get vaccinated when you can, so that all of those people that we all love will still be here when this pandemic ends."