Fauci says Americans may still be wearing masks in 2022; UK speeds up vaccination plan; WHO calls on Tanzania to act
- Fauci laments ‘historic’ Covid toll as US nears 500,000 deaths
- UK roadmap out of lockdown revealed
- UK: changing events could put brakes on recovery roadmap, says minister
- Israel’s use of Covid vaccines in prisoner swap deal sparks row
- See all our coronavirus coverage
Dr Anthony Fauci is calling the United States’ approaching milestone of half a million deaths from the coronavirus as “terribly historic” and stressed the need for continuing public health measures, AP reports.
Fauci says with virus infections overall going down and vaccinations continuing things are improving but that the US remains in a “terrible situation” and people should remain mindful of wearing masks and keeping social distance.
Currently there are over 497,000 deaths from the coronavirus in the US.
Fauci, who is President Joe Biden’s chief medical adviser, said he expects a “significant degree of normality” in everyday life toward the end of the year but that it was “possible” people will still need to be wearing masks into 2022.
He says ultimately it will depend on the trajectory of Covid variants as well as whether an “overwhelming majority” of people get vaccinated. Fauci says he wants to see infections get to a “very, very low” baseline before backing off recommendations to wear a mask, when the risk of exposure to someone with Covid has become minimal.
Fauci spoke on CNN’s “State of the Union” and NBC’s “Meet the Press.”
Boris Johnson will unveil the government’s eagerly awaited roadmap out of lockdown for England on Monday. Here’s what the prime minister is expected to tell MPs:
Related: What must Boris Johnson consider before easing Covid lockdown?
