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‘The consequences could be serious’ - Fauci warns of severe outcome if country reopens too soon

Published:Wednesday | May 13, 2020 | 12:07 AM
Senators listen as Dr Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, speaks remotely during a virtual Senate Committee for Health, Education, Labour, and Pensions hearing, yesterday on Capitol Hill in Washington. Seated (from left) are Senator Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska; Senator Mike Braun, R-Indiana, and Senator Rand Paul, R-Kentucky.
The Associated Press
Senators listen as Dr Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, speaks remotely during a virtual Senate Committee for Health, Education, Labour, and Pensions hearing, yesterday on Capitol Hill in Washington. Seated (from left) are Senator Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska; Senator Mike Braun, R-Indiana, and Senator Rand Paul, R-Kentucky.

WASHINGTON (AP):

Dr Anthony Fauci, the government’s top infectious disease expert, warned on Tuesday that “the consequences could be really serious” if cities and states reopen the US economy too quickly with the coronavirus still spreading.

More COVID-19 infections are inevitable as people again start gathering, but how prepared communities are to stamp out those sparks will determine how bad the rebound is, Fauci told the Senate Health, Labor and Pensions Committee.

“There is no doubt, even under the best of circumstances, when you pull back on mitigation you will see some cases appear,” Fauci said.

And if there is a rush to reopen without following guidelines, “my concern is we will start to see little spikes that might turn into outbreaks”, he said. “The consequences could be really serious.”

In fact, he said opening too soon “could turn the clock back”, and that not only would cause “some suffering and death that could be avoided, but could even set you back on the road to try to get economic recovery”.

Fauci was among the health experts testifying Tuesday to the Senate panel. His testimony comes as President Donald Trump is praising states that are reopening after the prolonged lockdown aimed at controlling the virus’ spread.

Senator Lamar Alexander, chairman of the committee, said as the hearing opened that “what our country has done so far in testing is impressive, but not nearly enough”.

Worldwide, the virus has infected nearly 4.2 million people and killed over 287,000 – more than 80,000 in US alone. Asked if the US mortality count was correct, Fauci said, “The number is likely higher. I don’t know exactly what per cent higher but almost certainly it’s higher.”

Fauci, a member of the coronavirus task force charged with shaping the response to COVID-19, testified via videoconference after self-quarantining as a White House staffer tested positive for the virus.

With the US economy in free-fall and more than 30 million people unemployed, Trump has been pressuring states to reopen.