A top health adviser to President-elect Joe Biden suggested this week that another lockdown might be necessary if coronavirus cases continue to rise. He is the second adviser on Biden’s coronavirus task force to do so. Given Biden’s vow to “listen to the scientists,” another shutdown is looking increasingly likely.

Dr. Michael Osterholm, one of Biden’s advisers, said during an event this week that shutting down businesses for four to six weeks could help flatten the rising curve. Our economy is well on track to handle another shutdown, he argued, and any losses accrued could be mitigated by direct payments until a vaccine is ready to be distributed.