Fauci warns ‘things will get worse’ with COVID

As the country grapples with an increase in the delta variant of the COVID-19 coronavirus, Dr Anthony Fauci believes the lockdowns the country experienced last year is unlikely to return, although he has warned that ” things will get worse “in an interview on ABC’s” This Week. ”

“I don’t think we’re going to see any blockages. I think we have enough of the percentage of people in the country – not enough to crush the epidemic – but I believe enough not to allow us to get into the situation that We were last winter, but things are going to get worse, “National infectious disease expert Jonathan Karl, co-host of” This Week “said on Sunday.

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“If you look at the acceleration in the number of cases, the seven-day average has increased dramatically. You know what we really need to do, Jon, we say it over and over and it’s the truth – we have 100 million. of people in this country who are eligible to be vaccinated and who are not getting vaccinated. We are seeing an epidemic of the unvaccinated, “he added.

“From the point of view of disease, hospitalization, suffering and death, the unvaccinated are much more vulnerable because the vaccinated are protected from serious diseases, for the most part, but when you look at the country in its own right. together. And bring us back to normal. , the unvaccinated, by not being vaccinated, allow the spread and spread of the epidemic which ultimately affects everyone, ”said Fauci.

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Concerns about the coronavirus resurfaced this week, as research into the virus outbreak in Provincetown, Massachusetts, indicated that the now dominant delta variant may be able to spread among fully vaccinated people.

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During an investigation into the outbreak, researchers learned that the amount of the virus in the noses of vaccinated people with a breakthrough infection was the same as in an unvaccinated person – a worrying sign that vaccinated people can also spread. the virus.

The data helped the CDC make its decision to reinstate mask guidelines for people vaccinated in areas with high or substantial spread of the virus – despite the fact that the breakthrough cases in those vaccinated are extremely mild and do not result in no hospitalization or death.

“It has a lot more to do with the transmission,” Fauci said of the new guidelines.

“You want them to wear a mask, so that if they are infected they don’t pass it on to vulnerable people, maybe in their own homes, children, or people with underlying illnesses,” he said. Fauci said of the new vaccine guidelines.

President Joe Biden also announced on Thursday a new vaccination policy for all federal workers and on-site contractors, requiring them to “certify their vaccination status,” and will require anyone not fully vaccinated to wear a mask at work. , wherever they are. , social distancing and get tested once or twice a week.

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Transport Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who also spoke to Karl on Sunday morning, fended off criticism from some unions representing these workers, who argue that the new requirement is a violation of civil liberties.

“Well, it’s about protecting lives. It’s about setting a good example. And to be clear, employees have a choice,” Buttigieg said in a separate interview on “This Week.”

“Listen, we have so many obligations in so many aspects of employee safety, to make sure this is a safe workplace. This is part of it. But it’s also important, I think, that our federal workforce leads by example because we “Call on the whole country to do what it takes to make sure we get past this pandemic. And that’s a very important part of how to do it, “he added.

But the new guidelines and the president’s recognition on Friday that “in all likelihood” the country could see new guidelines and restrictions due to the outbreak have sparked continued anger from some Republican governors, including Arizona’s Doug Ducey and Ron DeSantis of Florida, who argue that individuals should be able to make decisions about masking and vaccines for themselves.

“What’s your response to these… Republican governors in some of the biggest states in our country? Karl asked Fauci.

“I respectfully disagree with them,” Fauci said. “The point is, there are things that are individual responsibilities that one has. And there are things that have to do with you individually, which also impact on others and cause the spread to spread. infection that we are seeing now – the increase in cases, Jon, is impacting everyone in the country. ”

“So in essence you are infringing on their individual rights because you are making them vulnerable. So you can argue this situation both ways,” he added.

Sony Salzman of ABC News contributed to this report.