Fauci: U.S. Could Not ‘Be Positioned More Poorly’ For Winter And Coronavirus

Topline

As levels of new coronavirus cases surge in the vast majority of U.S. states, Dr. Anthony Fauci said in an interview with the Washington Post that the U.S. is “in for a whole lot of hurt,” in the coming months and “could not be positioned more poorly” going into the fall and winter seasons.

Key Facts

Chief Critic

The Trump administration slammed Fauci for the critical comments he made about the White House’s pandemic approach during the interview. Judd Deere, a spokesperson for the president, said in a statement shared with the Washington Post that “it’s unacceptable and breaking with all norms for Dr. Fauci, a senior member of the President’s Coronavirus Taskforce … to choose three days before an election to play politics.” He added Fauci’s criticisms are “exactly what the American people have come to expect from The Swamp.”

Big Number

9,140,734. That’s how many coronavirus cases have been detected in the U.S. since the beginning of the pandemic, by far the most cases reported in any country according to data from Johns Hopkins University. The U.S. also leads in deaths attributed to the virus, with 230,626 total fatalities attributed to the virus on Sunday.

Key Background

Experts have warned since the early days of the pandemic that jumps in coronavirus could come with colder weather, as people head indoors to meet with others in less well-ventilated spaces for holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas. Even as new cases, hospitalizations and deaths increase in the U.S., reports of Americans suffering from pandemic fatigue as the country enters its eighth month of the coronavirus crisis may lead to a slackening of social distancing compliance, experts worry.

Further Reading

‘A whole lot of hurt’: Fauci warns of covid-19 surge, offers blunt assessment of Trump’s response (The Washington Post)

Fauci Praises Biden’s Covid Precautions, Says He Avoids West Wing Due To ‘All The Infections’ (Forbes)

U.S. Shatters Record With More Than 100,000 New Covid Cases In One Day (Forbes)

The Hidden Costs Of Coronavirus Hospitalizations (Forbes)

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