Fauci On Possible CA Curfew: 'If It's Sound, I Would Back That'

CALIFORNIA — Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Monday that he and state officials were looking into a statewide curfew amid an alarming rise in COVID-19 cases. On Tuesday, Dr. Anthony Fauci said he would back that idea "if it is sound."

Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, was decorated with the William Randolph Hearst Award from San Jose State University's school of integrity and honesty Tuesday.

At the virtual award ceremony, attendees opted in to hear Fauci speak about his career combining both communications and healthcare.

"Truth telling builds credibility," Fauci said during the livestream. "So we must always tell the truth."

Professor Bob Rucker, who moderated the virtual ceremony, asked Fauci about the idea of a statewide curfew in California.

"There are differences depending upon where you are and what the state of the outbreak is in your particular region," Fauci said.

In California, state health officials recorded a 51 percent increase in cases between Nov. 1 and Nov. 7. The state also eclipsed a grim milestone of 1 million coronavirus cases.

"It is certainly true that in other countries curfews for example for people in general — for bars closing at certain times, restaurants closing at certain times — has actually helped when you look at late into the evening," Fauci said, adding, "people let down their guard, people maybe drink a little bit too much, people get in congregate settings."

In Los Angeles County, a curfew will be implemented Friday, as local leaders discussed the idea over the weekend ahead of the governor's Monday announcement.

On Tuesday, LA County officials announced that restaurants, wineries, breweries, and non-essential retail businesses would have to close at 10 p.m., while also limiting their capacity and that of indoor retail shops.

"I leave it up to the good judgement of the leaders of your states and cities to make that," Fauci said. "But if they make that decision, I certainly, the basis of it upon if it is sound — I would back that."

On Wednesday, the state announced 9,811 new cases, up 0.9 percent from Tuesday. Officials recorded 1,047,789 total cases and 18,360 deaths related to COVID-19 as of Wednesday.

The full interview and award ceremony from San Jose State University can be found here.

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