Page 39 - AHATA

A6 U.S. NEWS
Monday 16 March 2020

Fauci open to a 14-day 'national shutdown' to stem virus

By HOPE YEN and AAMER week or more. "We feel that with rather
MADHANI In the nation's capital, stringent mitigation and
WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House officials said containment, without nec-
government's top infec- Trump tested negative for essarily complete lock-
tious disease expert said the virus over the weekend down, we would be able
Sunday he would like to see after he was recently in to prevent ourselves from
aggressive measures such contact with three people getting to where, unfortu-
as a 14-day national shut- at his Florida resort who nately, Italy is now," Fauci
down that would require tested positive, and sev- said.
Americans to hunker down eral lawmakers in recent "With regard to domestic
even more to help slow days have said they were travel bans, we always talk
spread of the coronavirus. self-quarantining out of an about it, consider every-
Still, Dr. Anthony Fauci said abundance of caution. thing. But I can tell you that
travel restrictions within the On Sunday, Democratic has not been seriously con-
United States, such as to Rep. Adam Schiff, chair- sidered, doing travel bans
and from hard-hit Wash- Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy man of the House Intelli- in the country. ... I don't see
and Infectious Diseases, speaks during a briefing on coronavirus
ington state and California, in the Brady press briefing room at the White House, Saturday, gence Committee, said a that right now or in the im-
probably will not be need- March 14, 2020, in Washington. former staff member tested mediate future."
ed anytime soon. Associated Press positive for COVID-19. That At the White House, Trump
Fauci, the public face of staffer, Daniel Goldman, on Sunday was set to hold
the administration's mes- get involved in distancing The vast majority of people the attorney who led Dem- a call with grocery store
saging during a round themselves socially," Fauci recover. According to the ocratic questioning during executives to discuss their
of morning TV interviews, said. World Health Organization, the House impeachment response to coronavirus
said the country should do "Everything is on the table," people with mild illness re- hearings, had left the office outbreak. Retailers have
as much as "we possibly he said. "Right now, myself cover in about two weeks, 10 days ago and he's be- reported seeing a crush of
could," even if officials are personally, I wouldn't go to while those with more se- lieved to have contracted shoppers flocking to stores
criticized for "overreacting." a restaurant. I just wouldn't vere illness may take three the virus after his departure. to stock up on food and
He said he raised the issue because I don't want to weeks to six weeks to re- "We will still be taking addi- other essentials. Consumers
of measures such as a shut- be in a crowded place. ... cover. tional precautions over the have expressed frustration
down with the Trump ad- I don't want to be in a situ- President Donald Trump next few days," Schiff said. that some items — such
ministration, and said it has ation where I'm going to be last week announced a "The former staffer is feeling as hand sanitizer and toi-
been open to his ideas. all of a sudden self-isolating sweeping travel ban for better and no current staff let paper — are becoming
"I think Americans should for 14 days." The virus has much of Europe. On Satur- have reported any flu-like more difficult to find.
be prepared that they are an incubation period of day, he added the United symptoms at this time." But more than the crisis was
going to have to hunker anywhere from two days to Kingdom and Ireland to a NIH reported Sunday that on his mind. He tweeted
down significantly more 14 days before symptoms list of countries that would one of its staff working in that he was considering
than we as a country are emerge. face travel restrictions over its division on arthritis and a full pardon for Michael
doing," said Fauci, a mem- For most people, the new the next 30 days. The State musculoskeletal and skin Flynn, his disgraced former
ber of the White House task coronavirus causes only Department on Sunday diseases had tested posi- national security adviser,
force on combating the mild or moderate symp- said it would allow U.S. per- tive for COVID-19, its first and he directed barbs at
spread of coronavirus. He toms, such as fever and sonnel to leave their dip- case. NIH said the person a familiar target, Senate
heads the National Institute cough. For some, especial- lomatic or consular posts was not involved in patient Democratic leader Chuck
of Allergy and Infectious ly older adults and people worldwide if they or fam- care and was now quaran- Schumer of New York.
Diseases at the National In- with existing health prob- ily members were medi- tined at home and "doing White House economic
stitutes of Health. lems, it can cause more cally determined to be at a well." adviser Larry Kudlow ex-
Fauci said the elderly and severe illness, including higher risk of falling very ill if Trump has suggested that pressed confidence that
those with underlying med- pneumonia. The worldwide exposed to the virus. restrictions on travel within supply lines such as food
ical conditions should al- outbreak has sickened Trump also has pledged the U.S. to areas hit hard for stores will be largely un-
ready be hunkering down, more than 156,000 people broadened U.S. testing for by the coronavirus pan- affected by the virus out-
but other Americans, too, and left more than 5,800 the virus as major employ- demic could be next. But break.
should consider "much dead. The death toll in the ers such as Apple Inc. have Fauci on Sunday played "I've read about some situ-
more" restrictions on out- United States has reached sent workers home to tele- down that or having major ations where this is a diffi-
side activity, from work and more than 50, while infec- work and several states national lockdowns on the culty, but most of our sup-
travel to possibly eating at tions neared 3,000 across and big cities, including Los level now seen in European ply lines are working pretty
restaurants. 49 states and the District of Angeles and Boston, shut- countries such as Italy and well in the domestic United
"Everybody has got to Columbia. tered down schools for a Spain. States," he said. q