Why Dr. Fauci Says The U.S. Is Heading In A Positive Direction In The Pandemic

Dr. Anthony Fauci, head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, and President Joe Biden's chief medical adviser said we are moving out of the "full-blown pandemic phase" of COVID-19 (via MarketWatch). This means Americans may soon experience a real turning point. And certainly, this is welcome news.

The interview comes on the heels of news that cases are down 53% across the U.S. since the Omicron variant peaked in January, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Hospitalization rates have also dropped in all age groups since mid-January, falling from over six admissions per 100,000 people to less than four (via CDC). Several states have already begun dropping mask mandates, including "blue states" known to be more cautious, like New York, Illinois, and Massachusetts. Many of these states have cited high vaccination rates and dropping infection levels as the reasons for their decisions (per The Washington Post).

Dr. Fauci also addressed the issue of COVID restrictions, which vary by state and even by city. He stated, "I hope we are looking at a time when we have enough people vaccinated and enough people with protection from previous infection that the COVID restrictions will soon be a thing of the past," (via Marketwatch).

His upbeat interview also follows the lifting of restrictions on countries around the world including the U.K., which will drop all mask mandates and vaccine pass requirements next week (via BBC News). Dr. Fauci told the Financial Times that the government will be stepping away from more restrictions and in the future, "these decisions will increasingly be made on a local level rather than centrally decided or mandated. There will also be more people making their own decisions on how they want to deal with the virus," (via The Hill).