Fauci Warns Of 'Serious Consequences' If States Open Too Soon

As the coronavirus death toll climbs, Dr. Anthony Fauci testified before a Senate committee Tuesday, warning that "the consequences could be really serious" if cities and states reopen too quickly with the new coronavirus still spreading.

At the hearing, Fauci told the Senate Health, Labor and Pensions Committee that more COVID-19 cases are inevitable as state and local officials relax social distancing measures.

In fact, the nation's top infectious disease expert and member of the U.S. coronavirus task force said opening too soon "could turn the clock back," and that not only would cause "some suffering and death that could be avoided, but could even set you back on the road to try to get economic recovery."

If there is a rush to reopen without following guidelines, "my concern is we will start to see little spikes that might turn into outbreaks," Fauci said. "The consequences could be really serious."

Fauci was one of four public health experts testifying before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee. He testified via video conference after self-quarantining after a White House staffer tested positive for the virus.

Dr. Robert Redfield, the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Dr. Stephen Hahn, the commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration; and Adm. Brett P. Giroir, the assistant secretary for health, also testified.

Fauci's message seems to contradict that of President Donald Trump, who in recent days has praised states for reopening and insisted the coronavirus is under control.

A recent Associated Press review determined that 17 states did not meet a key White House benchmark for loosening restrictions — a 14-day downward trajectory in new cases or positive test rates. Yet many of those have begun to reopen or are about to do so, including Alabama, Kentucky, Maine, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Utah.

Of the 33 states that have had a 14-day downward trajectory of either cases or positive test rates, 25 are partially opened or moving to reopen within days, the AP analysis found.

The Senate hearing came as the United States reached yet another bleak milestone, surpassing 80,700 deaths from the new coronavirus as of Tuesday morning. The virus has now claimed the lives of more than 286,900 people worldwide as of Tuesday morning.

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