Anthony Fauci
Anthony FauciFauci was concerned that people would do “dangerous and foolish” things after Trump suggested injecting disinfectant. The GOP lawmaker wants to ban the feds from funding the collection of information on the COVID-19 vaccine. spring | Moderna says vaccine is effective on variants, but tests booster injection | California raises request for stay at regional home MORE, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said in an interview with CNN on Monday night that he was concerned about Americans’ reaction after President Trump
Donald TrumpSchumer: The impeachment trial will be swift, it doesn’t need many witnesses Nurse to be chosen by Biden as interim general surgeon: Schumer report asks Biden to declare climate emergency MORE suggested that people could inject disinfectants as a way to treat the coronavirus.
After a presentation in April by a Department of Homeland Security official about the effects of sunlight and disinfectants on the virus, Trump, during a press conference, turned to his own employees and considered whether disinfectants could be used as treatment in human bodies.
“I see the disinfectant, where it wears out in a minute,” said Trump. “One minute. And is there a way for us to do something like this, by injecting or almost cleaning?”
Fauci said he and others tried to discredit the idea as soon as they could.
“You are going to have people who are going to hear this from the president and are going to start doing dangerous and foolish things, which is why, immediately, those of us who were not there said, ‘This is something you should not do.’ Be very explicit. The (US Center for Disease Control and Prevention) came out, I think, the next day and published one of its publications, ‘Don’t do it,’ “Fauci told CNN’s Erin Burnett.
Trump later said the comment was sarcastic.
Fauci told CNN that the former president was receiving a combination of “good information and bad information” amid the ongoing pandemic.
“Unfortunately, the concept of anecdotal information as opposed to science-based information seemed to prevail above that,” said Fauci.
“I think if you look at the resistance that I received from White House staff, including the president, over hydroxychloroquine was one of the reasons why I felt it was essential for me, not in a confrontational way, I didn’t have much pleasure in contradicting president, but I had to leave just to maintain my integrity, but also to defend the science that the data didn’t show what they said, ”continued Fauci.
Fauci denied the efficacy of the anti-malarial drug hydroxychloroquine to treat COVID-19. Trump touted the drug as a “miracle” in the midst of the pandemic.