Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), is offering a slight change in the likelihood of a second wave of coronavirus in the fall.
During an appearance on CNN Wednesday morning, Fauci discussed the possibility of a second wave of coronavirus. Now, the infectious disease expert insists a resurgence “is not inevitable.”
“We often talk about the possibility of a second wave, or of an outbreak when you reopen. We don’t have to accept that as an inevitability,” Fauci said, adding, “Particularly when people start thinking about the fall, I want people to really appreciate that it could happen, but it is not inevitable.”
However, he insists there is a contingency. A second wave could possibly be prevented if necessary precautions — including “clear and effective identification, isolation, and contact tracing” — are taken now to plan for the coming months.
He continued, “If we do the kinds of things that we’re putting in place now, to have the workforce, the system, and the will to do the kinds of things that are the clear and effective identification, isolation and contact tracing, we can prevent this second wave that we’re talking about.”
See Fauci’s remarks below:
Dr. Anthony Fauci says he’s “not so sure [hydroxychloroquine] should be banned” as a treatment for coronavirus, “but clearly the scientific data is really quite evident now about the lack of efficacy.” https://t.co/LzfX7XM9P9 pic.twitter.com/1thkE0GsN1
— CNN News Central (@NewsCentralCNN) May 27, 2020
Fauci also offered an update about the coronavirus outbreak in the United States. While the last several weeks have presented various challenges nationwide, he now claims things are “getting better and better.” Fauci also confirmed an expansion of testing capacity is underway.
“It’s getting better and better, Jim. I’m feeling better about it as we go by with the weeks that go by, and we see that we’re getting more and more capability of testing,” said Fauci.
He went on to share details about the CDC’s latest efforts to combat the coronavirus outbreak.
“The CDC is putting more of a workforce out there to help us do the kinds of identification, isolation, and contact tracing. I feel better and better that we’re capable of doing that.”
Fauci’s latest coronavirus update follows a string of previous interviews, television appearances, and press briefings about the virus.
When asked whether or not there would be a second wave, President Donald Trump downplayed the idea of the pandemic being prolonged saying it would “go out fast.” The president even claimed it was possible the novel virus “doesn’t come back at all.”
But, Fauci doubted the president’s assertion and suggested that a second wave would be inevitable.
“We will have coronavirus in the fall. I am convinced of that,” Fauci said.
At the time, Fauci also noted that the level of resurgence would be contingent on the United States’ response.
As of Wednesday, there are roughly 1.7 million coronavirus cases in the United States and a death toll of almost 100,000.