Fauci contradicts Trump's death toll prediction as Rand Paul slams top White House doctor

Chiara Giordano, Chris Riotta, John T Bennett
·1 min read
File image of Dr Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases in the US: AFP via Getty Images
File image of Dr Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases in the US: AFP via Getty Images

The US government’s leading infectious disease expert told a Senate committee on Tuesday that if states open too quickly, they could be dealing with new Covid-19 outbreaks "that you cannot control."

"There is no doubt when you pull back on mitigation, you will see cases appear," Dr Anthony Fauci, head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, told the Senate Health, Education, Labour and Pension Committee.

"It's not only doing it at the appropriate time, with the appropriate restraints, but ... responding when the infection recurs," he added.

That puts him at odds with President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly urged governors to lift orders keeping most business closed and their residents at home. The doctor also broke with Mr Trump by saying the US death toll likely is higher than current estimates.

The hearing, so far, has focused largely on testing and whether governors should open their states. But sparks flew when Senator Rand Paul, a Kentucky Republican, bluntly told Dr Fauci he is not the "end all" on coronavirus or any public health matter.