‘US should not lift COVID-19 restrictions till cases fall below 10,000’, says Dr Fauci

US President Joe Biden’s chief medical advisor, Dr. Anthony Fauci made cryptic denouncing remarks on Thursday hinting towards the states which plan to ease COVID-19 restrictions in the US. He said, “The United States shouldn’t ease restrictions in place to prevent COVID-19 before the number of new coronavirus cases falls below 10,000 daily”, according to US media reports. 

He added, “The US should pull restrictions gradually, after a substantial portion of Americans are vaccinated”, reported CNN. 

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The United States, which stands as the worst affected country in the COVID-19 pandemic, last saw per day cases fewer than 10,000 in March 2020, when the virus had just started gaining pace. Since October, the US has witnessed over 50,000 new daily cases. 

Fauci said, “We will be pulling back. We’re now up to about two million vaccinations every day, which means that every day that goes by, every week that goes by, we have more and more people protected.”

In a statement to CNN, Dr. Fauci said, I understand the need to want to get back to normality, but you’re only going to set yourself back if you just completely push aside the public health guidelines. Particularly when we’re dealing with anywhere from 55,000 to 70,000 new cases every day in the country.”

The statements came a few days after Republican governors of Mississippi and Texas announced that they will be easing the restrictions previously imposed due to the outbreak. This included permitting businesses to work at the desired capacity and removing the mandate that compels people to wear a mask.

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Health officials across the country have denounced the decisions taken and predict that such steps will give the cases a substantial boost even after the country’s inoculation drive is in full swing and the economy starts to recover. 

The United States Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) director, Dr. Rochelle Walensky appealed to Americans living in the states that have taken similar decisions and encouraged them to “do the right thing” and continue to wear masks and socially distance themselves, reported CNN.