by By Stefan J. Bos, Special Correspondent Worthy News
(Worthy News) – America’s top health official in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic dampened hopes of a full reopening of the U.S. economy as he expects many more cases of the virus disease COVID-19.
Anthony S. Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, warned that the second wave of infections is “inevitable” in the United States. The country already has more than 1 million confirmed cases — nearly one-third of the global total. Fauci’s comments came while the U.S. coronavirus death toll topped 60,000 on Wednesday, according to Johns Hopkins University. COVID-19 has already claimed more American lives than the Vietnam War.
Despite the reported mounting death toll, state and city leaders plan to ease restrictions aimed at curbing the virus’ spread. American officials have faced social unrest in several states amid growing signs of “quarantine fatigue.”
But Fauci cautioned, “we could be in for a bad fall and a bad winter” if the right countermeasures aren’t put in place. His words came as a setback for President Donald Trump. He expressed frustration over ongoing large scale lockdowns to limit the spread of COVID-19. Trump also faces re-election in November and wants the economy to reopen and improve as soon as possible.
Fauci’s warnings of potential new infections and ongoing deadly outbreaks did little to halt President Trump signing an executive order requiring meatpacking factories to stay open. The move, intended to stave off shortages, was criticized by labor leaders.
Other factories, malls, and state governments in several parts of the U.S. are also taking steps toward reopening. Fauci’s concerns about a possible new wave of infections are shared thousands of miles away in Japan, a critical U.S. ally. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe even cautioned that holding the Tokyo Olympics next year would be “impossible” if the pandemic is not contained.
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