Although it has yielded the headlines to the increased racial tensions, Covid-19 is still very much an ongoing global pandemic regardless of the decrease attention from media and people alike.
Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Dr. Anthony Fauci said on Tuesday that the pandemic is far from over and said that the virus has been his “worst nightmare” although he has been spearheading the US reaction to viral diseases since 1984.
Fauci made this humbling statement during an online conference that was hosted by the Biotechnology Innovation Organization. Noting how the virus managed to affect virtually everyone around the globe in under four months, Fauci warned that the end is still far.
He also explained how the novel coronavirus is so different from the HIV virus, which he has studied throughout his professional career. Fauci explained that the biggest difference and the complexity arises from how differently Covid-19 affects every patient.
When asked when he expected the pandemic to be over, Fauci let out a sigh and explained that experts have only now began to analyze and understand the virus. He agreed with other immunologists in that the development of a vaccine will be the only and final solution.
In a change of tone, the veteran health expert did state with confidence that a vaccine and treatment will be developed. He added that he has been moved by the urgency with which the pharmaceutical industry has reacted to the needs of the people, unlike the SARS pandemic in 2003.
Fauci also commented on how Covid-19 clearly illustrated the health inequality that is prevalent in the US. He argued that when the US recovers from the current crisis, it should invest resources into the most vulnerable communities to prevent a future pandemic.
In particular, Fauci specified the African American community who he said was “getting hit with a double whammy”. He observed how a bigger portion of African Americans make their living by working jobs that require more personal contact, making them more vulnerable.
He also warned against the suggested price control measures on the potential vaccines, worrying that it may take away the incentive for private firms to develop the much needed treatment to the virus.
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