Coronavirus: Top US expert warns on reopening too fast

NEW YORK: The US government’s top infectious diseases expert warned Congress that ending lockdowns too soon could trigger fresh and uncontrollable outbreaks of COVID-19.

In his first appearance on Capitol Hill in two months, Anthony Fauci delivered a cautionary message at odds with the rhetoric of President Donald Trump, who has pressed for rapid steps to rekindle the devastated economy.

The scientist told a Senate panel that federal authorities had developed guidelines on how to safely reopen activities, with a sustained 14-day decrease in cases as a vital first step. “If a community or a state or region doesn’t go by those guidelines and reopens… the consequences could be really serious,” said Fauci.

“There is a real risk that you will trigger an outbreak that you may not be able to control,” he later added, warning that would not only cost lives “but could even set you back on the road to trying to get economic recovery.”

He was referring to the White House’s ‘Opening Up America Again’ plan, which includes three 14-day phases that states are urged to consider implementing as they allow schools and businesses to reopen.

Several US states already restarting their economies have infection rates that are rising. He warned of the risk of triggering an outbreak that officials would not be able to control, adding that such an outbreak would set back economic recovery and could lead to “suffering and death”.

Although the White House has laid out guidelines for reopening, it is ultimately up to state governors to make the decisions on how to ease the lockdown. “There is no doubt, even under the best of circumstances, when you pull back on mitigation you will see some cases appear,” Dr Fauci warned US officials.

Responding to a question from Senator Bernie Sanders, Fauci acknowledged that US coronavirus deaths are likely higher than the official toll of roughly 80,000. This was because many people, particularly in New York, died at home before they could be admitted to a hospital.

Fauci said he was “cautiously optimistic” about the prospects of a vaccine, with eight candidates undergoing clinical trials, including one made by the firm Moderna which is closely collaborating with the National Institutes of Health where he is a senior official.

Its efficacy could be determined by late fall or early winter, he said. “We have many candidates and hope to have multiple winners,” Fauci added. “In other words, it’s multiple shots on goal.”

Fauci, who has become the trusted face of the federal government’s virus response, was one of four top medical experts testifying remotely to the Senate Health, Education, Labour and Pensions Committee. There has been frequent speculation that Fauci’s forthright approach has irked Trump, who has been accused of downplaying the crisis as he pushes to restart the economy.

While the situation has improved in New York, and the daily nationwide death toll has dipped markedly in recent days, the rate of new cases has yet to drop off dramatically.The White House has outlined a three-phase approach to help state and local officials reopen their economies while observing medical advice on limiting the virus’ spread.

As well as a two-week downward trajectory of cases, it calls for robust testing for healthcare workers, with asymptomatic cases screened as well, and contacts of positive cases traced. Trump has been criticized for leaving states to grapple alone with their outbreaks and even bid against each other to obtain critical medical equipment.