Americans Could Still Be Wearing Masks In 2022, Fauci Says

Topline

While a quickening vaccine rollout has some U.S. officials predicting a return to normalcy by the end of this year, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s leading infectious disease expert, said it’s “possible” the Covid-19 precaution of mask usage will linger into 2022. 

Key Facts

Crucial Quote 

Fauci highlighted that even if precautions like mask usage do extend into 2022, life will be “much, much better than what we’re doing right now.” 

Key Background 

Hopes for a return to relative normalcy in the U.S. have been bolstered by a relatively successful vaccine rollout. The U.S. has carried out more vaccinations than any other country in the world, and is inoculating three-times quicker than the European Union and almost five-times quicker than Canada (adjusted for population). According to The Washington Post’s vaccine tracker, the U.S. has doled out at least one dose of the vaccine to 35.1% of the prioritized population and 12.9% of the total population. The winter storm that’s pummeled Texas and other Southern states over the past week has caused “a temporary set back,” according to Fauci, and has delayed around 6 million vaccines from getting out, but both Fauci and White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said Sunday morning that the country should be back on track within the next few days. 

Further Reading 

“Pfizer’s Covid Vaccine Over 95% Effective In Israel, New Study Reportedly Shows” (Forbes)

“America’s vaccine rollout has been among the best in the world” (Axios)

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