Dr Fauci Warns of Serious Consequences as States Reopen

As many states in the US reopen and explore more ways to ensure precautionary measures such as social distancing and the use of face masks, experts are concerned that there could be an increase in infection cases.

As of Tuesday, the coronavirus death toll in the US had risen to 81,500, after federal health officials appeared before the US Senate in a hearing to testify whether the country is ready to reopen. A top national infectious-disease expert, Anthony Fauci warned that “consequences could really be serious” if states reopened soon enough. While Robert Redfield, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that social distancing would remain “imperative” for US citizens.

In addition, Fauci said that there would not only be consequences if states reopened too quickly but also urged that states should not reopen until they have made necessary provisions to handle uptick cases once they reopen.

“My concern that if some areas—cities, states or what have you – jump over those various checkpoints and prematurely open up, without having the capability of being able to respond effectively and efficiently, my concern is we will start to see little spikes that might turn into outbreaks,” Fauci said.

On Tuesday, FDA Commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb expressed his concern as a few states that reopened too quickly already had high uptick cases. Some of the states that reopened went ahead to do so without meeting the criteria published by the White House for states that plan to reopen.

Gottlieb also said that it would only be a matter of time for states that were yet to report any uptick to start having uptick cases. “The bottom line is a lot of states are now reopening activity against a backdrop that doesn’t meet the criteria that the White House set out in terms of when it would be safe to reopen,” He said.

In addition to his comment before the Senate, Fauci said “there is a real risk” that could trigger an uncontrollable outbreak that would most likely cause a setback, not only in “some suffering and death” but also “economic recovery.”

He further told a Senate Committee on Tuesday that schools shouldn’t expect a vaccine or widely-available treatment for the coronavirus by fall, as it was a “bridge too far.” He also pointed out the possibility of Covid-19 vaccines not being developed in about a year or two.

Dr. Fauci’s comment about the consequences of state reopening sparked mixed reactions among lawmakers present at the hearing.

Senator Rand Paul, a Kentucky Republican responded to Fauci’s concerns arguing that the coronavirus has been on a “relatively benign course” with the exclusion of England’s high infection rates.

“As much as I respect you, Dr. Fauci, I don’t think you’re the end-all… I don’t think you’re the one person that gets to make a decision. We can listen to your advice, but there are people on the other side saying there’s not going to be a surge and that we can safely open the economy. And the facts will bear this out,” Paul said.