Dr. Anthony Fauci is on CNN this morning. He says there were intensive discussions at the White House about an enforceable quarantine. Says a strong advisory is better because you don’t want to enforce things that will be a bigger difficulty.
When explaining what another difficulty would be, Fauci cited morale as one factor in that. Says the advisory is the best way to go. CDC is asking people in there states to avoid all non essential domestic travel.
Fauci says you can’t neglect other parts of the country, where it looks like there is relatively few cases. Says you need to get out there and test, and get people out of public. It can prevent having to mitigate a future problem.
Fauci is asked how many cases could be confirmed in the U.S.? He says he doesn’t know, they’re looking at models which give both worst and best case scenarios. Says reality usually happens somewhere in the middle.
I just rewound they tape to make sure I heard this correctly —— Fauci says based on what they’re looking at now he says between 100-200 thousand cases — and then corrects himself to say deaths. But he doesn’t want to he held to that number. Expects millions of cases.
Says he doesn’t want to be held to any numbers because he doesn’t want to mislead people and be wrong.
Fauci is asked about what steps need to be taken to see some light at the end of the tunnel? Fauci says there should be no pulling back in New York or New Orleans, where cases are growing rapidly.
Fauci says the virus itself determines the timetable. You can influence it though mitigation. But now is not pulling back regulations in the places he mentioned.
Fauci says you must have the capability of testing in an efficient way before any pullback can be happening. Says if you release restrictions before you have a good eyeball on what’s happening, you’re going to be in trouble.
Fauci says he is for easing certain restrictions if you can test in real time, and understand what’s happening. He says it’s doable, but only doable if you have the tools in place.
Fauci is asked how many tests need to be done before knowing where the hot spots are? Fauci says you need to see people able to get a test easily, in real time, right now.
Fauci says you have to have all the players and materials in place before you can pull back. Says I’m some places there are the tools, but not others. Still hearing stories about people not being able to get testing. Says it’s not a perfect situation.
Fauci says it’s all going to depend on rapid testing, tests where the results are back within 15 minutes. Says when those rapid tests are out there, he’ll be closer to being comfortable with easing restrictions. Says it won’t happen by next week.
Fauci says he doubts if it will be the case of guidelines can be eased across the US (the president’s 15 day flatten the curve campaign is set to expire this week).
Fauci is asked about NY’s request for 30,000 ventilators. Fauci says he believes Governor Cuomo. Says there are ventilators and dots need to be connected to get them to NY.
Fauci says bottom line, he’s (Cuomo) got to get them. (Ventilators)
Fauci is asked about Trump saying he doesn’t call governors who are not appreciative of the president. Fauci says the reality is different than the rhetoric. Says when people need things, doesn’t matter who they are, we try to get them what they need.
