Fauci: Easing restrictions during an outbreak is a 'recipe for disaster'

(Patria) – The cause of the increase in new coronavirus infections in the US is mainly due to ignoring public health guidelines on social distancing and wearing protective masks, stated leading US infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci.

The number of new infections is particularly on the rise in the southern and western US states that have not followed the recommendations of health officials to wait for a two-week drop in infections before easing measures and opening economies.

"It's a recipe for disaster," Dr. Fauci, head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said in an interview with CNN.

He claims that community spread is now present, which is harder to control than outbreaks in known locations such as nursing homes or prisons.

In the US, more than 2.6 million residents have confirmed coronavirus infections, while more than 128,000 people have died due to complications.

One of the states with a sharp increase in coronavirus statistics is California, where the closure of some bars was ordered on Sunday, a step back after the decision to open the economy in this most populous federal state. In Texas and Florida, the closure of all catering facilities was ordered on Friday.

US Vice President Mike Pence appealed to Americans to wear masks on Sunday during a visit to Texas, which he further emphasized with his own example.

According to Dr. Fauci's statement, in areas where the infection is spreading more intensely, authorities intend to conduct mass testing to get a better picture of the new outbreak of the virus.

Fauci also stated that he is optimistic about a vaccine that could be available by the end of the year, but admitted that he is not sure to what extent it will solve the problem because "no vaccine is 100% effective," and in the same context, he mentioned the challenges of achieving herd immunity.

The top Republican in the US House of Representatives, Kevin McCarthy, emphasized individual responsibility in combating the infection on Monday.

"You can't say it's all on the federal government, and then say the federal government can't tell states what to do," McCarthy told CNBC. "Governors have a great responsibility, but every American has a responsibility too. They should wear masks," McCarthy stressed.