Hello and welcome to the Oster Home Update, COVID-19, a weekly podcast on the COVID-19

pandemic with Dr. Michael Oster Home. Dr. Oster Home is an internationally recognized

medical detective and director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy

or CITRAP at the University of Minnesota. In this podcast, Dr. Oster Home will draw on

more than 45 years of experience investigating infectious disease outbreaks to provide

straight talk on the COVID-19 pandemic. I'm Chris Doll, reporter for CITRAP News. I'm

your host for these conversations.

It seems fitting that in these final days of summer, the country isn't a bit of a holding

pattern. New COVID-19 cases are continuing their downward trend and the surge that we saw in

several hot spots over the summer appears to be ebbing. But as the school year begins and colder

weather, in flu season, there is a sense that new hot spots will soon appear and that the

situation is likely to get worse before it gets better. So in this August 27 episode of the Oster Home

Update, we'll discuss how much worse the coronavirus pandemic could get in the US over the coming months.

We'll also delve into the continuing controversy over testing and the FDA's decision-making

on therapeutics and vaccines and we'll answer a question from my parent about their child's return

to college. But first, as always, Dr. Oster home will start with the podcast with the dedication.

Thank you, Chris and welcome to the audience. Again here today, thank you so much for being with us.

As I say, every time we appreciate the fact that you had spent some time with us to listen to

our thoughts on what's happened with the current pandemic. We know you have lots of other options

for finding such information. So it's a real honor to have you with us. Today, I'm dedicating this

podcast to all the parents, all the guardians, all those who have responsibility for all of our

students in school, whether it be in daycare, to K through 12, high red, and whatever form.

...