Fauci feared people would do ‘dangerous and stupid’ things after Trump suggested injecting disinfectant

Anthony FauciAnthony FauciFauci feared people would do ‘dangerous and stupid’ things after Trump suggested injecting disinfectant GOP lawmaker wants to ban federal government funding collection of information on COVID-19 vaccine Care Night Health: Biden says anyone who wants a vaccine might be able to get it. spring | Moderna says vaccine works on variants, but tests booster | California lifts regional stay-at-home command PLUS, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said in an interview with CNN on Monday evening that he was concerned about the reaction of Americans after the former President TrumpDonald TrumpSchumer: Impeachment trial will be swift, doesn’t need many witnesses Nurse bugged by Biden as acting surgeon general: Schumer report calls on Biden to declare climate emergency MORE suggested that people could inject disinfectants as a way to treat the coronavirus.

After a presentation in April by a Department of Homeland Security official on the effects of sunlight and disinfectants on the virus, Trump, at a press briefing, turned to his own officials and s question is whether disinfectants could be used as a treatment in the human body.

“I see the disinfectant, where it knocks her out in a minute,” Trump said. “Wait a minute. And is there a way to do something like that, by injecting inside or almost by cleaning?”

Fauci said he and others tried to discredit the notion as soon as they could.

“You’re going to have people hearing this from the president and they’re going to start doing dangerous and crazy things, which is why, immediately, those of us who weren’t there said, ‘C’ is something you shouldn’t do. Be very specific. The (US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) came out, I think, the next day and put out one of their posts, “Don’t do this “” Fauci told CNN’s Erin Burnett.

Trump later said the comment was sarcastic.

Fauci told CNN the former president was receiving a combination of “good news and bad news” amid the ongoing pandemic.

“Unfortunately, the concept of anecdotal information as opposed to scientific information seems to prevail over that,” Fauci said.

“I think if you look at the rejection I got from people in the White House, including the President, about hydroxychloroquine was one of the reasons I felt it was was essential to me, not in a confrontational manner, didn’t take great pleasure in contradicting the president, but had to come out just to maintain my own integrity, but also to defend the science that the data didn’t show what it was claimed, ”Fauci continued.

Fauci has denied the effectiveness of hydroxychloroquine, an antimalarial drug, to treat COVID-19. Trump touted the drug as a “miracle” amid the pandemic.