The United States does not need more widespread lockdowns to bring its COVID-19 outbreak under control, despite the fact that the national daily infection rate has stayed flat, leading government expert Anthony Fauci said on Thursday.
Speaking to AFP, the physician-scientist added he was optimistic the world would soon have a vaccine that would end the pandemic, calling early trial results “encouraging”.
“I don’t think we’re going to be talking about going back to lockdown,” he said when asked whether places like California and Texas that are seeing a surge in their caseload should reissue stay-at-home orders.
“I think we’re going to be talking about trying to better control those areas of the country that seem to be having a surge of cases.”
The US leads the world in the number of confirmed infections and in deaths, with the fatality toll approaching 120,000.
But while former epicenters New York and New Jersey have controlled their outbreaks, the virus is now increasing in 20 states — creating a plateau in the national case graph.
Fauci stressed a localized approach as the country returns to normal — including on the crucial question of when to reopen schools, reports france24.com.❑
