Coronavirus July 21, 2020

Dr. Anthony Fauci Says He’s A “Realist,” Not An “Alarmist”

WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 20: Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Dr. Anthony Fauci holds up the "15 Days to Slow the Spread" instruction as U.S. President Donald Trump looks on during a news briefing on the latest development of the coronavirus outbreak in the U.S. at the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House March 20, 2020 in Washington, DC. With deaths caused by the coronavirus rising and foreseeable economic turmoil, the Senate is working on legislation for a $1 trillion aid package to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic. President Trump announced that tax day will be delayed from April 15 to July 15. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)

After being kept off TV for a while, Dr. Anthony Fauci is now doing some interviews. Today he reappeared on CNN to talk with Jake Tapper. During the interview, he addressed Donald Trump’s comments that he is a “little bit of an alarmist.” Instead, Fauci said, “people do have their opinions, other than that I’ve always thought of myself as a realist when it comes to this.”

“I consider myself more a realist than an alarmist,” Dr. Anthony Fauci says in response to President Trump calling him an “alarmist.” pic.twitter.com/mBPC63dF3i
— The Lead CNN (@TheLeadCNN) July 21, 2020

While Fauci has been doing interviews again, he wasn’t asked back to a coronavirus task force briefing on Tuesday. It was the first briefing Donald Trump attended in the last two months. Instead to get Fauci’s expertise we are left to listen to his interviews.

It seems like the number one thing people want to know is where the pandemic is heading.

Dr. Anthony Fauci says he believes there are “fundamental things" that can be implemented to turn things around in southern states experiencing a surge of Covid-19 cases. “Things like universal wearing of masks. Close the bars. Stay physically distant… It’s not rocket science.” pic.twitter.com/WjjMlTCdTK
— The Lead CNN (@TheLeadCNN) July 21, 2020

Fauci also weighed in on recent news surrounding potential vaccines.

“I would say that some protection by a vaccine is certainly better than no protection. So, I like the idea about there being multiple candidates in the queue and I hope that we do get approval of more than one candidate because we need a lot of vaccine,” Dr. Fauci says. pic.twitter.com/VcMnRzw2z7
— The Lead CNN (@TheLeadCNN) July 21, 2020