⁍ White House health experts are warning of a slow rise in the percentage of people testing positive for coronavirus in U.S. cities such as Boston, Chicago, Detroit and Washington.

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⁍ ‘This is a predictor of trouble ahead,’ said Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

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– A deadly virus that has spread from New York City to communities from coast to coast may be on the rise. In a call with state and local officials Wednesday, a member of the White House task force on coronavirus warned of a rise in the percentage of people testing positive for the disease in Chicago, Boston, Detroit, and Washington, according to a recording of the call obtained by the Center for Public Integrity. Dr. Deborah Birx said Baltimore and Atlanta remain at a “very high level,” as well as Kansas City, Portland, Omaha, and the Central Valley in California, Reuters reports. Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, told CNN that this is a predictor of trouble ahead. “This is a predictor of trouble ahead,” he said. “Unless everybody pulls together … we’re going to continue to see these kind of increases that Dr. Birx was talking about in several of those cities.” On average, 1,000 people die from coronavirus every day in the US. The death toll is now over 157,000, with 4.8 million known cases. Birx has been traveling around the US talking to state and local officials in recent weeks, sending regular warnings not to relax until the virus is under sufficient control. Her message has often been in contrast to that of her boss, President Trump, who as recently as Wednesday said the virus “will go away like things go away.” Facebook said the post violated its rules against sharing misinformation.