Leading infectious disease specialist Anthony Faucchi said on Tuesday that the May 1 goal of restarting the economy was “a little too optimistic”, citing a lack of diagnostic tests and the absence of tracking procedures.
“We have to have something in our hands that is effective and that we can rely on and that we are not yet there,” Fauci, head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, told the Associated Press.
President Donald Trump’s administration has advised Americans to stay home in April, and Trump himself has set May 1 as a possible date for restarting activity in some areas of the economy.
Fauci argues that the restart should be done gradually, from area to area and not all at once.
Public health officials need to be able to test for the virus quickly, isolate new cases and detect new infections before easing social distancing measures and other restrictions.
The American scientist also told the AP that the duration of the White House’s daily information about the new corona is “really exhausting”.
President Donald Trump has, from time to time, used the updates to promote his role and attack his political opponents.
Monday’s briefing lasted 2.5 hours.
“If I could make a few comments and then go to work, that would be much better,” Fauci told the AP.
