Skip to main content
Tags: brett giroir | task force | influenza | pandemic | flu season

Adm. Brett Giroir 'Concerned' About Flu Impact

brett giroir speaks during a coronavirus task force daily press briefing
Coronavirus task force Adm. Brett Giroir (Jim Watson/Getty Images)

By    |   Thursday, 13 August 2020 04:19 PM EDT

Coronavirus task force Adm. Brett Giroir said Thursday he is optimistic COVID-19 death rates will fall in the next few weeks — but is "particularly concerned" about the impact of the coming flu season.

In an interview on MSNBC's "Andrea Mitchell Reports" show, the assistant secretary for health at the Department of Health and Human Services said COVID-19 rates are likely to follow a decline pattern now seen in hospitalizations and case numbers.

"The mortality we're seeing today is a result of cases that were four to eight weeks ago," he said. "So, we expect mortality to go down over the next couple of weeks, to follow the hospitalizations and case numbers.

"We're particularly concerned about this flu season, because it will coincide with COVID," he added.

Giroir also weighed in on the impact of the coronavirus on children, noting the rates of "severe illness . . . are very, very low."

"Most children who do have a severe illness have an underlying condition," he noted, but warned: "None of us would say . . . that children can't have an ill effect, but the chances are much lower, much, much lower than adults, and certainly much lower than the elderly."

"Every year, we have tragic losses of children with influenza," he said. "I'm not trying to say this is the same thing, but we do know children have a better outcome with the disease than adults. And I think that's the appropriate characterization."

© 2025 Newsmax. All rights reserved.

Sign up for Newsmax’s Daily Newsletter

Receive breaking news and original analysis - sent right to your inbox.

(Optional for Local News)
Privacy: We never share your email address.

SciTech
Coronavirus task force Adm. Brett Giroir said Thursday he is optimistic COVID-19 death rates will fall in the next few weeks — but is "particularly concerned" about the impact of the coming flu season.
brett giroir, task force, influenza, pandemic, flu season
243
2020-19-13
Thursday, 13 August 2020 04:19 PM
Newsmax Media, Inc.
Join the Newsmax Community
Read and Post Comments
Please review Community Guidelines before posting a comment.
 

Interest-Based Advertising | Do not sell or share my personal information

Newsmax, Moneynews, Newsmax Health, and Independent. American. are registered trademarks of Newsmax Media, Inc. Newsmax TV, and Newsmax World are trademarks of Newsmax Media, Inc.

NEWSMAX.COM
America's News Page
© 2025 Newsmax Media, Inc.
All Rights Reserved
Download the Newsmax App
NEWSMAX.COM
America's News Page
© 2025 Newsmax Media, Inc.
All Rights Reserved