Fauci: Stimulus project must be approved for schools to reopen

Dr. Anthony FauciAnthony FauciSunday shows the preview: Lawmakers evaluate Trump’s impeachment trial; The Biden administration predicts the Oxford University mass vaccination schedule to begin testing the COVID-19 vaccine in children. Five things to know about the new CDC guidelines for coronavirus MORE, the country’s leading infectious disease specialist, said on Sunday that a stimulus bill needed to be passed for schools to reopen safely.

When appearing on ABC’s “This Week” program, Fauci spoke to the host George StephanopoulosGeorge Robert StephanopoulosLawmakers blame Trump for the riots as the second impeachment trial approaches Senator: Trump impeachment a ‘party exercise in meaningless messages’ Buttigieg says ‘time is essential’ in the stimulus bill MORE about how schools could safely reopen by expanding new guidelines that have been launched recently by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

“It is the first time that it has been included in a document based on observations and scientific data from the past months to a year, both in the United States and elsewhere. Part of this is to indicate and strongly suggest that teachers be given preference to be vaccinated, ”said Fauci, but added that it was possible to reopen schools without all teachers being vaccinated in advance.

When asked by Stephanopoulos whether schools had the resources available to comply with the new CDC guidelines, Fauci said he did not believe this.

“I think schools really need more resources and that’s why the national humanitarian aid law we’re talking about has been passed – we need it. Schools need more resources ”.

House committees began to mark portions of President bidenJoe BidenBiden on Trump’s acquittal: ‘The merit of the prosecution is not in dispute’ White House press officer resigns after threatening Politician reporter Trump condemning vote exposes Republican Party split MORE$ 1.9 trillion stimulus plan, and Democrats promised to pass a final bill early next month.

However, Fauci on Sunday appeared to be optimistic about the reopening of schools, a movement he supported during the pandemic, arguing that the damage to young students was too great.

“I think it can be done. I mean, it’s obviously not a perfect situation, but it is very important to get children back to school in the safest way possible. Safe for children, but also safe for teachers and other educators. ”Said Fauci.

In its new guidelines for reopening schools, the CDC said it was “essential that schools open safely and as quickly as possible” due to the benefits of personal learning. Last year’s data showed a decline not only in students’ academic performance, but also in their mental health and well-being, as classes shifted online and at home.

Fauci also mentioned the growing threat posed by the coronavirus variants in the UK and South Africa. He said that the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines proved to be “clearly” effective against the UK variant and said that widespread administration of the vaccine was the best way to avoid “serious consequences”.

Stephanopoulos noted that data on the South Africa variant are lacking. Recent data suggest that the South African strain is more resistant to current vaccines.

“We know that it escapes the protection of some of the monoclonal antibodies and slightly decreases the vaccine’s ability and effectiveness to block it. It does not eliminate it, but it decreases it in several folds. There is still some pillow left. protection against it, “said Fauci.

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