Anthony Fauci
Anthony FauciHillicon Valley: Russian hackers are back in the spotlight with vaccine investigation attack | Twitter says 130 accounts targeted in this week’s cyber attack | Four Dismissed, Dozens Suspended in CBP Investigation of Racist and Sexist Facebook Groups Overnight Health Care: White House Blocks CDC Director from Testifying Before House Panel | Fauci urges action on the masks | The administration document says counties in the ‘red zone’ should close bars, gyms that the White House prevents the CDC director from testifying before the House panel about reopening schools., the country’s leading infectious disease expert, in an interview Saturday with WebMD medical director John Whyte said “young people are driving this new surge” in coronavirus cases by “not worrying” if they become infected.
Fauci said recent data shows that the largest age group reporting new COVID-19 infections is at least 15 years younger than the demographic the nation saw a few months ago when case numbers in New York reached their point. maximum in early April.
“They are not going to get very sick. They know it. So what I think is happening is that, understandably, innocently, but not correctly, the younger people say, ‘Well, if I get infected, then the chances are that neither I won’t even have any symptoms, who cares? That’s a big mistake, “said Fauci.
COVID-19 infections in younger individuals with healthy immune systems are statistically more likely to show less severe symptoms than those found in older patients. Still, Fauci added that this is not a reason for younger generations to exercise less caution.
“Because by allowing yourself to become infected or not worrying about becoming infected, you are spreading a pandemic,” he added. “Because it doesn’t end with you. You become infected and have no symptoms. Chances are, you will infect someone else, which will then infect someone else.”
Fauci emphasized how careless behavior towards the virus in younger, healthier individuals could indirectly affect someone who is more prone to serious infection, thus creating more problems that counteract the effort to slow the spread.
“So somehow we must continue to convey that message. And I don’t mean in the sense of blaming anyone,” Fauci said, adding, “These are people who are doing this innocently and inadvertently.”
Whyte raised a point about how health experts use words like “asymptomatic” and “presymptomatic” when discussing the virus, and how some populations may not understand this rhetoric if health science is not part of their daily lives.
Fauci recounted his recent media adventures outside of typical Washington politics, underscoring how Instagram interviews with people like Julia Roberts or podcasts with notable rappers like Lil Wayne could be a gateway to help young people. to understand more about COVID-19.
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