While promoting preliminary success in developing treatments for COVID-19, Dr. Anthony Fauci said Tuesday that “there was no guarantee” that a vaccine to prevent the coronavirus would be ready in early 2021.
“There is no guarantee, and anyone who has been involved in the vaccines will tell you: We will have a safe and effective vaccine, but we are cautiously optimistic, looking at the animal data and preliminary data, that we will at least know the extent of efficacy at some point. winter and early next year, “Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, told the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Work and Pensions.
Fauci also said the scientists had “hopeful aspirations” that doses could be made available to the public next year.
Previously, he noted that the drug remdesivir had been shown to be effective in treating infected patients, reducing recovery time.
Dr. Robert Redfield, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, told lawmakers that in light of the spikes in some states that have reopened, it was more urgent than ever for people to take steps to protect themselves themselves and others, including the use of face covers. .
“We are not helpless against this disease. We have powerful tools at our disposal. Social distancing, wearing a mask in public and being disciplined for frequent hand washing, ”said Redfield.
“It is essential that we all take personal responsibility to delay the transmission of COVID-19 and adopt the universal use of facial coatings. I ask those who are listening to spread the word. “
He then detailed increases in infection in states that have reopened.
“We are seeing significant increases in the southeast and southwest regions of this nation,” he said.
“The evidence tells us that these cases are driven by many factors including increased testing, community transmission, and outbreaks in settings such as nursing homes and occupational settings. Hospitalizations are now increasing in 12 states, ”he said.
Admiral Brett Giroir, undersecretary of health, who is coordinating the testing efforts, also emphasized the importance of social distancing and facial covering to stop the spread of the pandemic, which has killed more than 125,000 Americans to date, the figure highest death toll in the world.
“We are all concerned with data indicating an increase in infections and now an increase in hospitalizations and deaths, even when other states and most counties maintain a low infection burden,” he said.
“We must take personal responsibility and be disciplined about our own behavior. Maintain physical distance. Wear a face covering whenever you cannot physically distance yourself. Wash your hands. Stay home if you feel sick, ”said Giroir.
Fauci later amplified that message, warning that the number of daily cases could decrease if preventive measures are not taken seriously up to 100,000 per day, compared to 41,000 cases on Sunday.
“I think the masks are extremely important. There is no doubt that the mask protects you and protects others. They are the people who protect each other. I am totally in favor of anything that encourages the use of masks, whether it be giving free masks or any other mechanism, ”said Fauci.
“We could go back to 100,000 cases per day if the trends don’t reverse. If things don’t change, it could get very bad, “he added.
Senator Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), Chairman of the panel, said in prepared remarks that the reopening of the schools was important.
And he also encouraged Americans, and President Trump, to wear masks.
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