WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 06: Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, speaks to reporters following a meeting of the coronavirus task force in the Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House on April 6, 2020 in Washington, DC. Infected with COVID-19, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson was admitted intensive care at a hospital in London Monday as the U.S. death toll surpassed 10,000. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
The leading U.S. infectious disease specialist, Dr. Anthony Fauci, said on Wednesday he foresees America achieving enough collective Covid-19 immunity through vaccinations to regain “some semblance of normality” by autumn 2021, despite early setbacks in the vaccine rollout.
Fauci made his remarks during an online discussion of the pandemic with California Governor Gavin Newsom, who announced at the outset that a more infectious coronavirus variant originally found in Britain has been detected in his state, a day after the first known US case was documented in Colorado.
Newsom said the coronavirus variant B.1.1.7 had been confirmed earlier in the day in a Southern California patient. He did not provide further details. But the California Department of Public Health said in statement later that the person, a San Diego County patient, has no known travel history, suggesting the variant is spreading within the community.
Fauci said he was “not surprised,” adding that additional cases of the variant would likely surface around the country and that the mutating nature of such viruses is normal.
“It appears that this particular mutation does make the virus better at transmitting from one person to another,” he said. However, individuals infected with earlier forms of SARS-CoV-2 “don’t seem to get re-infected by this,” meaning that any immunity already acquired “is protective against this particular strain,” Fauci added.
Follow us on:
Senator Okpebholo has accused Obaseki of attempting to frustrate a peaceful power transfer and making…
Valencia’s citizens are protesting and demanding accountability after the deadly floods, criticising regional head Carlos…
Qatar has suspended its mediation role in Israel-Hamas talks, citing lack of willingness from both…
A Nasarawa professor Akyala has urged the UN to condemn Russia’s alleged illegal human labour…
Trump has been projected to win Arizona, completing a sweep of all seven swing states
Equatorial Guinea’s former anti-graft chief Engonga has been jailed in for allegedly recording over 400…