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Fauci expresses concern with new outbreak

With roughly 40,000 new cases per day, increasing numbers cause concern across the U.S.

Top infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci addressed senators in a hearing of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions committee Tuesday, saying that the U.S. is, “going in the wrong direction” with the recent coronavirus surge.

Fauci said some regions are putting the rest of the country at risk.

Roughly 40,000 new cases are being reported per day, according to the Associated Press.

“[I] would not be surprised if we go up to 100,000 a day if this does not turn around,” Fauci said, saying he is very concerned with the increasing daily numbers.

Infections are rising rapidly mostly in parts of the West and South, reports the Associated Press, and Fauci and other public health experts say Americans everywhere will have to start following key recommendations if they want to get back to more normal activities like going to school.

When and how school buildings can reopen will vary depending on how widely the coronavirus is spreading locally, Fauci told the committee.

“I feel very strongly we need to do whatever we can to get the children back to school,” Fauci said.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Robert Redfield plans more guidelines for local school systems, reports the Associated Press.