Kentucky Republican Senator Rand Paul accused infectious disease specialist Dr. Anthony Fauci of “theater” over Fauci wearing two masks, despite having been vaccinated against COVID-19. The contentious exchange took place when the number of COVID-19 cases increased in Michigan and New Jersey.
At a Senate hearing on Thursday, Paul questioned the recommendation of health experts that vaccinated individuals continue to wear face masks. Paul said that people who have already received the vaccine or been infected with COVID-19 have immunity, making them no longer need masks.
“What studies do you have that show that the people who received the vaccine or had the infection are spreading the infection?” Paulo asked Fauci, according to The Washington Post. “If we’re not spreading the infection, isn’t it just theater? … You got the vaccine and you’re wearing two masks. Is that just theater?”
Fauci said it was not just theater. He replied that the studies have not conclusively determined whether vaccinated or previously infected individuals can still spread the virus. He also said that studies have not determined whether the new variants of COVID-19 can infect vaccinated or previously infected individuals.
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Paul accused Fauci of making “conjecture-based policies”. Fauci replied that the medical recommendation to continue wearing masks was not based on conjecture, but on “strangers”, the Publish reported.
Later, Fauci clarified in a statement that the immunity granted by previous vaccinations and infections is believed to give people partial protection against the COVID-19 variants. He said that viral variants can decrease a person’s immunity “two to eight times”.
Meanwhile, the number of COVID-19 cases has increased in Michigan and New Jersey.
On March 4, Michigan reported 1,827 recently confirmed COVID-19 cases, according to the Coronavirus Resource Center at John Hopkins University. On March 17, the state reported 3,785 cases – an increase of 107 percent in two weeks. Michigan’s COVID-19 cases have steadily increased since February 20.
On March 4, New Jersey reported 3,193 new confirmed cases of COVID-19. On March 17, the state recorded 4,329 cases – an increase of 35 percent.
On March 18, Michigan ranked 13th among the states with the highest overall number of infections. The state had 683,000 cases and 16,835 related deaths in total. By comparison, on March 18, New Jersey ranked tenth among the states with the highest overall number of infections. The state had 853,000 cases and 24,076 related deaths in total.
Michigan currently has the highest infection rate in the country, according to the Covid Act Now, a group of epidemiologists and health experts who monitor the risk of a COVID-19 outbreak in each state. As of March 18, Michigan’s infection rate was 1.18, meaning that each person infected with COVID-19 probably spreads it to an average of 1.18 people. The group considers infection rates above 1.1 to be “high”.
Most colleges and universities in New Jersey canceled their spring break to prevent a resurgence. Spring break students are believed to be more likely to ignore masking and social distance measures, while also forming large crowds.
Newsweek contacted Paul’s office for comment.