Dr. Anthony Fauci Says Staying Closed For Too Long Could Cause ‘Irreparable Damage’

An anonymous reader quotes a report from CNBC: Stay-at-home orders intended to curb the spread of the coronavirus could end up causing “irreparable damage” if imposed for too long, White House health advisor Dr. Anthony Fauci told CNBC on Friday. “I don’t want people to think that any of us feel that staying locked down for a prolonged period of time is the way to go,” Fauci said during an interview with CNBC’s Meg Tirrell on “Halftime Report.”

He said the U.S. had to institute severe measures because Covid-19 cases were exploding then. “But now is the time, depending upon where you are and what your situation is, to begin to seriously look at reopening the economy, reopening the country to try to get back to some degree of normal.” However, Fauci also cautioned states against reducing social distancing measures too quickly, adding they must take “very significant precautions.” “In general, I think most of the country is doing it in a prudent way,” he said. “There are obviously some situations where people might be jumping over that. I just say please proceed with caution if you’re going to do that.” In regard to a coronavirus vaccine, Dr. Fauci told NPR that it remains “conceivable” that a vaccine for the deadly pathogen could be available by the end of the year.