Well-Being Prevention & Cures

Dr. Fauci: Americans have to stay home and practice social distancing ‘several more weeks’ amid coronavirus pandemic

getty: Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)

Story at a glance

  • Fauci said he “cannot see that all of a sudden, next week or two weeks from now it’s going to be over.”
  • The Trump administration this week announced guidelines calling on people to stay home and avoid groups of more than 10 people.
  • More than 14,000 cases have been confirmed in the U.S. with more than 200 deaths.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), is estimating that Americans will have to stay home and practice social distancing for at least several weeks as the coronavirus continues to spread throughout the United States. 

“If you look at the trajectory of the curves of outbreaks and other areas, at least going to be several weeks,” Fauci said Friday during an interview on NBC’s Today show

“I cannot see that all of a sudden, next week or two weeks from now it’s going to be over. I don’t think there’s a chance of that. I think it’s going to be several weeks.” 

The Trump administration announced national guidelines this week advising people to work from home, to postpone unnecessary travel and not to gather in groups of more than 10 people for 15 days. 

“If everyone makes this change, or these critical changes and sacrifices now, we will rally together as one nation and we will defeat the virus,” President Trump said Monday in the White House briefing room.

Earlier this week, Fauci was asked how long it would take before health officials could know whether the guidelines are actually flattening the curve of the spread.


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“It probably would be several weeks and maybe longer before we know whether we’re having an effect,” Fauci said. 

Some parts of the country have gone to greater lengths to keep people from gathering in groups. California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) issued an order for all 40 million Californians to stay home Thursday night due to the outbreak. The order issued by Newsom is the first statewide restriction placed on all Californians. Those found violating the law could be fined up to $1,000. 

More than 14,000 cases have been confirmed in the U.S., with more than 200 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University data. 


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