As the Omicron variant spreads across the world, experts are warning people to stay indoors rather than travelling during the Christmas festival. Adding to these warnings, Anthony Fauci has also warned against that Christmas travelling can spread the virus more severely.<o:p></o:p>

Chief Medical Advisor to the President of United States, Anthony Fauci, said that as the Omicron variant is "raging through the world", there is a huge chance that the variant can spread rapidly across the globe as people are travelling during the Christmas break.

"There's no doubt about this, [Omicron] has an extraordinary capability of spreading," Dr Anthony Fauci told NBC's Meet the Press programme on Sunday.

<o:p>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uks-experts-urge-people-to-stay-home-if-one-person-tests-covid-positive-in-a-house-438279">Experts urge people to stay home if one person tests Covid positive in a house</a></o:p>

Fauci has also urged people to go back to wearing face masks and practice social distancing whenever they step outdoors. People are being advised to avoid going outdoors much and avoid unnecessary gatherings and travel.<o:p></o:p>

He also added that if people do not pay heed to these warnings, the cases will soon double up at an alarming rate, just like it has happened in several European countries. He also added that if the current situation does not get any better, the rapid spread of Omicron can have a serious impact on health services.<o:p></o:p>

"Our hospitals, if things look like they're looking now, are going to be very stressed," he warned.

<o:p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/coronavirus-fresh-travel-restrictions-have-led-to-a-spark-in-hotel-booking-cancellations-437005">WATCH |</a></o:p>

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Mainly, Fauci is urging everyone to get fully vaccinated and also get a booster shot as soon as possible, as he believes that booster shots are one way of being protected against Omicron to some extent.<o:p></o:p>

"The difference between a vaccinated and boosted person who has an infection, and someone who has an infection who has never been vaccinated - it's a major difference with regard to the risk of severity," he said.<o:p></o:p>

As the Omicron variant spreads across the world, experts are warning people to stay indoors rather than travelling during the Christmas festival. Adding to these warnings, Anthony Fauci has also warned against that Christmas travelling can spread the virus more severely.

As the Omicron variant spreads across the world, experts are warning people to stay indoors rather than travelling during the Christmas festival. Adding to these warnings, Anthony Fauci has also warned against that Christmas travelling can spread the virus more severely. Chief Medical Advisor to the President of United States, Anthony Fauci, said that as the Omicron variant is "raging through the world", there is a huge chance that the variant can spread rapidly across the globe as people are travelling during the Christmas break. "There's no doubt about this, [Omicron] has an extraordinary capability of spreading," Dr Anthony Fauci told NBC's Meet the Press programme on Sunday. Also read | Experts urge people to stay home if one person tests Covid positive in a house Fauci has also urged people to go back to wearing face masks and practice social distancing whenever they step outdoors. People are being advised to avoid going outdoors much and avoid unnecessary gatherings and travel. He also added that if people do not pay heed to these warnings, the cases will soon double up at an alarming rate, just like it has happened in several European countries. He also added that if the current situation does not get any better, the rapid spread of Omicron can have a serious impact on health services. "Our hospitals, if things look like they're looking now, are going to be very stressed," he warned. WATCH | Mainly, Fauci is urging everyone to get fully vaccinated and also get a booster shot as soon as possible, as he believes that booster shots are one way of being protected against Omicron to some extent. "The difference between a vaccinated and boosted person who has an infection, and someone who has an infection who has never been vaccinated - it's a major difference with regard to the risk of severity," he said.

Christmas travel can lead to doubling of Omicron cases: Fauci

According to Chief Medical Advisor to US President Dr Anthony Fauci, the initial reports on the Omicron variant of coronavirus indicate that it may be less dangerous than Delta which continues to drive a surge in hospitalisations.

Early indications suggest Omicron may be less dangerous than Delta, says Fauci

As the Omicron variant spreads all around the world, many are wondering if the available vaccines are enough to fight the new variant of coronavirus. White House Chief Medical Advisor Dr Anthony Fauci has answered that question.<o:p></o:p>

Fauci has claimed that a booster shot specifically for the Omicron variant may not be needed. However, he also warned that the pharmaceutical companies selling the vaccine shots may still develop such booster shots.<o:p></o:p>

As per him, the existing Covid vaccines can help fight the new variant as they seem to have the same level of immunity needed to fight Omicron.

<o:p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/united-kingdom-reports-rapid-spread-of-the-omicron-variant-436157">WATCH |</a></o:p>

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"I'm not so sure that we’re going to have to get a variant-specific boost vaccine to get an adequate protection from Omicron,"&nbsp;Fauci told the health news website STAT on Friday.&nbsp;"Because if you look at protection against variants, it appears to relate to the level of immunity and the breadth of the immunity that any given vaccine can instill on you."<o:p></o:p>

Fauci has showed trust in the existing Covid vaccines, even as experts around the world argue around the topic. <o:p></o:p>

On the other hand, Pfizer’s CEO Albert Bourla has also sent out a mixed signal. While the chief believes that Pfizer can help keep people safe, he also hinted that another shot may be needed to keep Omicron variant at bay. "With Omicron we need to wait and see because we have very little information. We may need [the fourth dose] faster,"&nbsp;he told CNBC this week.<o:p></o:p>

Bourla’s statement falls in line with something that Fauci had warned the people against. The White House official had also said that pharmaceutical companies "are going to be making variant-specific boosters."

<o:p>(With inputs from agencies)</o:p>

As the Omicron variant spreads all around the world, many are wondering if the available vaccines are enough to fight the new variant of coronavirus. White House Chief Medical Advisor Dr Anthony Fauci has answered that question.

As the Omicron variant spreads all around the world, many are wondering if the available vaccines are enough to fight the new variant of coronavirus. White House Chief Medical Advisor Dr Anthony Fauci has answered that question. Fauci has claimed that a booster shot specifically for the Omicron variant may not be needed. However, he also warned that the pharmaceutical companies selling the vaccine shots may still develop such booster shots. As per him, the existing Covid vaccines can help fight the new variant as they seem to have the same level of immunity needed to fight Omicron. WATCH | "I'm not so sure that we’re going to have to get a variant-specific boost vaccine to get an adequate protection from Omicron," Fauci told the health news website STAT on Friday. "Because if you look at protection against variants, it appears to relate to the level of immunity and the breadth of the immunity that any given vaccine can instill on you." Fauci has showed trust in the existing Covid vaccines, even as experts around the world argue around the topic. On the other hand, Pfizer’s CEO Albert Bourla has also sent out a mixed signal. While the chief believes that Pfizer can help keep people safe, he also hinted that another shot may be needed to keep Omicron variant at bay. "With Omicron we need to wait and see because we have very little information. We may need [the fourth dose] faster," he told CNBC this week. Bourla’s statement falls in line with something that Fauci had warned the people against. The White House official had also said that pharmaceutical companies "are going to be making variant-specific boosters." (With inputs from agencies)

We might not need booster shot of vaccine to fight Omicron: Fauci

Top US epidemiologist Anthony Fauci said on Tuesday that there were early indications that Covid-19 Omicron variant was not more severe than&nbsp;strains encountered before. However, he cautioned that it would take weeks to fully understand full severity of the Omicron variant.

Speaking to AFP, President Joe Biden's chief medical advisor broke down the knowns and unknowns about Omicron into three major areas: transmissibility, how well it evades immunity from prior infection and vaccines, and severity of illness.

Fauci said that Omicron was "clearly highly transmissible," very likely more so than Delta. He called Omicron to be currently the dominant strain in the world.

Accumulating epidemiological data from around the world also indicates re-infections are higher with Omicron.&nbsp;

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/early-indications-omicron-variant-more-transmissible-than-delta-uk-pm-johnson-434892">Early indications Omicron variant more transmissible than Delta: UK PM Johnson</a>

Fauci, the long-time director of the National Institute of Allergies and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), said results from lab experiments that tested the potency of antibodies from current vaccines against Omicron should come in the "next few days to a week."

On the question of severity, "it almost certainly is not more severe than Delta," said Fauci.

"There is some suggestion that it might even be less severe, because when you look at some of the cohorts that are being followed in South Africa, the ratio between the number of infections and the number of hospitalizations seems to be less than with Delta."

But he noted it was important to not over-interpret this data because the populations being followed skewed young and were less likely to become hospitalized. Severe disease can also take weeks to develop.

"I think that's going to take another couple of weeks at least" to confirm in South Africa, where the variant was first reported in November, he said.

"Then as we get more infections throughout the rest of the world, it might take longer to see what's the level of severity."

Fauci said a more transmissible virus that doesn't cause more severe illness and doesn't lead to a surge of hospitalizations and deaths was the "best-case scenario."

"The worst-case scenario is that it is not only highly transmissible, but it also causes severe disease and then you have another wave of infections that are not necessarily blunted by the vaccine or by people's prior infections," he added.

"I don't think that worst-case scenario is going to come about, but you never know."

(With inputs from agencies)

Top US epidemiologist Anthony Fauci said on Tuesday that there were early indications that Covid-19 Omicron variant was not more severe than strains encountered before.

Top US epidemiologist Anthony Fauci said on Tuesday that there were early indications that Covid-19 Omicron variant was not more severe than strains encountered before. However, he cautioned that it would take weeks to fully understand full severity of the Omicron variant. Speaking to AFP, President Joe Biden's chief medical advisor broke down the knowns and unknowns about Omicron into three major areas: transmissibility, how well it evades immunity from prior infection and vaccines, and severity of illness. Fauci said that Omicron was "clearly highly transmissible," very likely more so than Delta. He called Omicron to be currently the dominant strain in the world. Accumulating epidemiological data from around the world also indicates re-infections are higher with Omicron. Also Read | Early indications Omicron variant more transmissible than Delta: UK PM Johnson Fauci, the long-time director of the National Institute of Allergies and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), said results from lab experiments that tested the potency of antibodies from current vaccines against Omicron should come in the "next few days to a week." On the question of severity, "it almost certainly is not more severe than Delta," said Fauci. "There is some suggestion that it might even be less severe, because when you look at some of the cohorts that are being followed in South Africa, the ratio between the number of infections and the number of hospitalizations seems to be less than with Delta." But he noted it was important to not over-interpret this data because the populations being followed skewed young and were less likely to become hospitalized. Severe disease can also take weeks to develop. "I think that's going to take another couple of weeks at least" to confirm in South Africa, where the variant was first reported in November, he said. "Then as we get more infections throughout the rest of the world, it might take longer to see what's the level of severity." Fauci said a more transmissible virus that doesn't cause more severe illness and doesn't lead to a surge of hospitalizations and deaths was the "best-case scenario." "The worst-case scenario is that it is not only highly transmissible, but it also causes severe disease and then you have another wave of infections that are not necessarily blunted by the vaccine or by people's prior infections," he added. "I don't think that worst-case scenario is going to come about, but you never know." (With inputs from agencies)

Omicron variant 'almost certainly' not more severe than Delta: Top epidemiologist Anthony Fauci

As Europe reported the first case of the new coronavirus variant B.1.1.529, President Biden's chief medical officer Anthony Fauci said the variant hadn't arrived in the country even as US scientists work with South African medical experts.

Fauci while speaking to CNN said that efforts are being made to test the virus variant in order to understand whether it evades the antibodies created by vaccines.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/will-take-weeks-to-understand-new-virus-variant-says-who-432124">Also Read:&nbsp;&nbsp;Will take weeks to understand new virus variant, says WHO</a>

Fauci conceded that the mutations have been raising "some concern" although he insisted that the US is pushing to get "scientific data" in order to better understand the new variant.

The director of the National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Diseases told the US television channel that more information is needed about the variant before a travel ban can be issued.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/new-virus-variant-detected-in-europe-as-belgium-reports-first-case-432173">Also Read:&nbsp;New virus variant detected in Europe as Belgium reports first case</a>

The European Medicines Agency(EMA)&nbsp;said it was "closely monitoring" the &nbsp;B.1.1.529 variant while adding that "current information is insufficient to determine if this variant is going to spread significantly and to what extent it may evade the immunity received with vaccines."&nbsp;

Germany's BioNTech which together produces the vaccine with Pfizer also echoed similar views informing that it needs data to understand the virus variant and it would need "two weeks at the latest".

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/south-africa-says-uks-travel-ban-order-seems-rushed-as-new-covid-variant-raises-alarm-432166">Also Read:&nbsp;South Africa says UK’s travel ban order 'seems rushed' as new Covid variant raises alarm</a> 
&nbsp; 
Meanwhile, European Commission president Ursula Von Der Leyen urged a "swift" response to the virus while adding that the body&nbsp;has proposed to activate the "emergency brake on travel from southern African countries" including other countries affected by the virus.

"All air travel to these countries should be suspended, they should be suspended until we have a clear understanding about the dangers posed by this new variant," the European Commission chief added.

Morocco became the latest country to block travellers coming from southern African countries as panic over the new virus variant began to spread worldwide.

(With inputs from Agencies)

As Europe reported the first case of the new coronavirus variant B.1.1.529, President Biden's chief medical officer Anthony Fauci said the variant hadn't arrived in the country even as US scientists work with South African medical experts.

As Europe reported the first case of the new coronavirus variant B.1.1.529, President Biden's chief medical officer Anthony Fauci said the variant hadn't arrived in the country even as US scientists work with South African medical experts. Fauci while speaking to CNN said that efforts are being made to test the virus variant in order to understand whether it evades the antibodies created by vaccines. Also Read: Will take weeks to understand new virus variant, says WHO Fauci conceded that the mutations have been raising "some concern" although he insisted that the US is pushing to get "scientific data" in order to better understand the new variant. The director of the National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Diseases told the US television channel that more information is needed about the variant before a travel ban can be issued. Also Read: New virus variant detected in Europe as Belgium reports first case The European Medicines Agency(EMA) said it was "closely monitoring" the B.1.1.529 variant while adding that "current information is insufficient to determine if this variant is going to spread significantly and to what extent it may evade the immunity received with vaccines." Germany's BioNTech which together produces the vaccine with Pfizer also echoed similar views informing that it needs data to understand the virus variant and it would need "two weeks at the latest". Also Read: South Africa says UK’s travel ban order 'seems rushed' as new Covid variant raises alarm Meanwhile, European Commission president Ursula Von Der Leyen urged a "swift" response to the virus while adding that the body has proposed to activate the "emergency brake on travel from southern African countries" including other countries affected by the virus. "All air travel to these countries should be suspended, they should be suspended until we have a clear understanding about the dangers posed by this new variant," the European Commission chief added. Morocco became the latest country to block travellers coming from southern African countries as panic over the new virus variant began to spread worldwide. (With inputs from Agencies)

New coronavirus variant not in US right now, says Anthony Fauci

In a stunning admission, USA's National Institute of Health has accepted&nbsp;that US-funded money was used for bat coronavirus gain-of-function research in a lab in Wuhan.

Gain of function refers to a genetically altering animal viruses to make them more transmissible in humans.

A top NIH official has admitted to US funding in a letter written to Congressman James Comer. Lawrence A. Tabak, principal deputy director of the NIH however, has insisted that bat viruses studied under NIH grant could not have become Covid-19.

The admission of funding to gain-of-function research from the NIH is contradictory to stand taken by Dr Anthony Fauci, USA's top disease expert,&nbsp;who has firmly denied such a thing.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/democrats-spending-plan-is-bigger-than-obamacare-says-biden-423022">Democrats' spending plan is 'bigger' than Obamacare, says Biden</a>

Tabak, in his letter, has blamed EcoHealth Alliance — the New York City-based nonprofit which funneled US money to Wuhan lab. Tabak says that the nonprofit was not transparent about what it was doing.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/new-outbreak-of-bacteria-infection-reported-in-wet-markets-of-hong-kong-423002">New outbreak of bacteria infection reported in wet markets of Hong Kong</a>

Dr Anthony Fauci's denials about gain-of-function research has often put him at odds with American politicians. Republican senator Rand Paul is one of them.

Paul took to Twitter when the NIH letter surfaced.&nbsp;

“I told you so” doesn’t even begin to cover it here" he tweeted

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“I told you so” doesn’t even begin to cover it here: <a href="https://t.co/9JFn85I24i">https://t.co/9JFn85I24i</a>
— Senator Rand Paul (@RandPaul) <a href="https://twitter.com/RandPaul/status/1450996489862459394?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 21, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Lawrence Tabak, NIH principal deputy director, said in his letter that EcoHelath Alliance did not comply with the terms of the grant that was given to it. 
&nbsp;

In a stunning admission, USA's National Institute of Health has accepted that US-funded money was used for bat coronavirus gain-of-function research in a lab in Wuhan.

In a stunning admission, USA's National Institute of Health has accepted that US-funded money was used for bat coronavirus gain-of-function research in a lab in Wuhan. Gain of function refers to a genetically altering animal viruses to make them more transmissible in humans. A top NIH official has admitted to US funding in a letter written to Congressman James Comer. Lawrence A. Tabak, principal deputy director of the NIH however, has insisted that bat viruses studied under NIH grant could not have become Covid-19. The admission of funding to gain-of-function research from the NIH is contradictory to stand taken by Dr Anthony Fauci, USA's top disease expert, who has firmly denied such a thing. Also Read | Democrats' spending plan is 'bigger' than Obamacare, says Biden Tabak, in his letter, has blamed EcoHealth Alliance — the New York City-based nonprofit which funneled US money to Wuhan lab. Tabak says that the nonprofit was not transparent about what it was doing. Also Read | New outbreak of bacteria infection reported in wet markets of Hong Kong Dr Anthony Fauci's denials about gain-of-function research has often put him at odds with American politicians. Republican senator Rand Paul is one of them. Paul took to Twitter when the NIH letter surfaced. “I told you so” doesn’t even begin to cover it here" he tweeted “I told you so” doesn’t even begin to cover it here: https://t.co/9JFn85I24i — Senator Rand Paul (@RandPaul) October 21, 2021 × Lawrence Tabak, NIH principal deputy director, said in his letter that EcoHelath Alliance did not comply with the terms of the grant that was given to it.

Coronavirus: NIH admits to US funding of gain-of-function research in Wuhan lab

The White House has invited Nicki Minaj to clear her doubts about the COVID-19 vaccine. The pop star is under attack for peddling fake news about vaccine side effects. Palki Sharma tells you more.

Gravitas: Nicki Minaj pushes vaccine hesitancy on Twitter

The United States has authorised an extra dose of Covid vaccine for people with weakened immune systems, as the country struggles to thwart the Delta variant.

"The country has entered yet another wave of the Covid-19 pandemic, and the FDA is especially cognizant that immunocompromised people are particularly at risk for severe disease," said acting&nbsp;Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Janet Woodcock in a statement.

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Speaking at a White House COVID-19 press briefing, CDC Director Rochelle Walensky said the shots would be available to certain people who are moderately and severely immune compromised, such as people who have had organ transplants and some cancer patients. She estimated the group of vulnerable people was less than 3 per cent&nbsp;of adults.

"This action is about ensuring our most vulnerable, who may need an additional dose to enhance their biological responses to the vaccines are better protected against COVID-19," Walensky said.

The CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices will meet on Friday to discuss this issue and offer recommendations.

Top US&nbsp;infectious disease official Dr. Anthony Fauci said US&nbsp;officials do not believe elderly or others who are not immunocompromised need another vaccine dose at this moment.

Cases and hospitalisations have surged across the country in the past month. Some hospitals in Arkansas, Florida, Louisiana, and Mississippi have run out of beds, and the outbreak is spreading beyond the epicenter in the US&nbsp;South to Oregon and Washington state.

Some other countries, such as Israel and Germany, plan to or have already administered third shots to elderly or vulnerable people to try to slow the spread of the contagious Delta variant of the coronavirus.

(With inputs from agencies)

The United States has authorised an extra dose of Covid vaccine for people with weakened immune systems, as the country struggles to thwart the Delta variant. "The country has entered yet another wave of the Covid-19 pandemic, and the FDA is especially cognizant that immunocompromised people are particularly at risk for severe disease," said acting Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Janet Woodcock in a statement.

The United States has authorised an extra dose of Covid vaccine for people with weakened immune systems, as the country struggles to thwart the Delta variant. "The country has entered yet another wave of the Covid-19 pandemic, and the FDA is especially cognizant that immunocompromised people are particularly at risk for severe disease," said acting Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Janet Woodcock in a statement. Speaking at a White House COVID-19 press briefing, CDC Director Rochelle Walensky said the shots would be available to certain people who are moderately and severely immune compromised, such as people who have had organ transplants and some cancer patients. She estimated the group of vulnerable people was less than 3 per cent of adults. "This action is about ensuring our most vulnerable, who may need an additional dose to enhance their biological responses to the vaccines are better protected against COVID-19," Walensky said. The CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices will meet on Friday to discuss this issue and offer recommendations. Top US infectious disease official Dr. Anthony Fauci said US officials do not believe elderly or others who are not immunocompromised need another vaccine dose at this moment. Cases and hospitalisations have surged across the country in the past month. Some hospitals in Arkansas, Florida, Louisiana, and Mississippi have run out of beds, and the outbreak is spreading beyond the epicenter in the US South to Oregon and Washington state. Some other countries, such as Israel and Germany, plan to or have already administered third shots to elderly or vulnerable people to try to slow the spread of the contagious Delta variant of the coronavirus. (With inputs from agencies)

US authorises Covid booster jabs for those with weak immune systems to thwart Delta variant

The Delta variant, first detected in India, accounts for 83% of all new cases reported in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

US COVID-19 cases hit six-month high at over 100,000: Report

US health expert Anthony Fauci said that is warning of "some pain and suffering in the future" as coronavirus cases continue to rise. Fauci argued that the unvaccinated are affecting others because they're "allowing the propagation and the spread of the outbreak."

US health expert Anthony Fauci warns of pain and suffering in future as COVID cases continue to rise

US infectious disease expert, Anthony Fauci, has warned the US for "some pain and suffering in the future" on Sunday but has ruled out any further <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/coronavirus">Covid</a> lockdowns.

Talking at a local media channel’s programme, Fauci said America should prepare itself for a painful few next days as the Delta variant has led to a surge in coronavirus cases in the country.

However, he has also assured that enough people are now vaccinated to avoid a repeat of last winter’s catastrophe-like situation.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/irresponsible-white-house-official-calls-out-western-media-for-missing-facts-402233" hreflang="en">'Irresponsible': White House official calls out western media for missing facts</a>

While US President Joe Biden said the country might see some new restrictions due to the widespread of the Delta variant, Fauci ruled out the possibility of any new lockdown in the country.

"I don't think we're going to see lockdowns," he said on ABC’s show This Week.

His statement has come after the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) changed the mask mandate and asked people in high-risk areas to start wearing masks even indoors.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/delta-covid-19-variant-can-be-passed-on-even-by-those-vaccinated-us-top-health-body-402016" hreflang="en">Delta COVID-19 variant can be passed on even by those vaccinated: US top health body</a>

Fauci has also urged people to get vaccinated against coronavirus as soon as possible as he believes "we are seeing an outbreak of the unvaccinated".

The US government is constantly sending out the message to the masses that getting vaccinated is the best and most effective way to beat the coronavirus pandemic.

"If you're vaccinated right now, your likelihood of getting severely sick is 25-fold reduced," Francis Collins, director of the National Institutes of Health told local media.

He also believes that people are getting the message of getting vaccinated as the vaccination rates have increased in the past few weeks.

US infectious disease expert, Anthony Fauci, has warned the US for "some pain and suffering in the future" on Sunday but has ruled out any further Covid lockdowns.

US infectious disease expert, Anthony Fauci, has warned the US for "some pain and suffering in the future" on Sunday but has ruled out any further Covid lockdowns. Talking at a local media channel’s programme, Fauci said America should prepare itself for a painful few next days as the Delta variant has led to a surge in coronavirus cases in the country. However, he has also assured that enough people are now vaccinated to avoid a repeat of last winter’s catastrophe-like situation. Also read | 'Irresponsible': White House official calls out western media for missing facts While US President Joe Biden said the country might see some new restrictions due to the widespread of the Delta variant, Fauci ruled out the possibility of any new lockdown in the country. "I don't think we're going to see lockdowns," he said on ABC’s show This Week. His statement has come after the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) changed the mask mandate and asked people in high-risk areas to start wearing masks even indoors. Also read | Delta COVID-19 variant can be passed on even by those vaccinated: US top health body Fauci has also urged people to get vaccinated against coronavirus as soon as possible as he believes "we are seeing an outbreak of the unvaccinated". The US government is constantly sending out the message to the masses that getting vaccinated is the best and most effective way to beat the coronavirus pandemic. "If you're vaccinated right now, your likelihood of getting severely sick is 25-fold reduced," Francis Collins, director of the National Institutes of Health told local media. He also believes that people are getting the message of getting vaccinated as the vaccination rates have increased in the past few weeks.

'Pain and suffering in future': Fauci warns US against Covid surge

US Senator Rand Paul accused Anthony Fauci of funding 'gain of function' research at the Wuhan Lab. Did Fauci approve grants for mad science projects at the Wuhan lab?

Gravitas: Did Fauci fund Wuhan lab mad science?

The director of the US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and the chief medical advisor to the president Anthony Fauci has said that the Delta variant of COVID-19 is responsible for more than 80% of new infections in the country.

He noted that the&nbsp;approved COVID-19 vaccines are more than 90% efficient in avoiding hospitalisations and deaths in the US.&nbsp;

Fauci made this statement during a US Senate hearing on Tuesday.

The hearing featured a heated argument between Republican US Senator Rand Paul and Fauci, in which Paul accused Fauci of lying about the National Institutes of Health sponsoring research at the Wuhan Institute of Virology in China.&nbsp; 
 
Watch | Gravitas: Norovirus outbreak in UK amid Wuhan virus resurgence

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Watch | COVID-19 cases rapidly rising in US as Delta variant dominates

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In the United States, the origins of the novel coronavirus have become a contentious political thing, with Republicans calling for more investigation into whether it was created in a Wuhan, China.

Late in May, Biden directed aides to look into the virus's origins and report back to him within 90 days.

COVID-19-related deaths in the United States have averaged 239 a day over the last week, up roughly 48 percent over the previous week, according to US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Rochelle Walensky.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

The director of the US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and the chief medical advisor to the president Anthony Fauci has said that the Delta variant of COVID-19 is responsible for more than 80% of new infections in the country.

The director of the US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and the chief medical advisor to the president Anthony Fauci has said that the Delta variant of COVID-19 is responsible for more than 80% of new infections in the country. He noted that the approved COVID-19 vaccines are more than 90% efficient in avoiding hospitalisations and deaths in the US. Fauci made this statement during a US Senate hearing on Tuesday. The hearing featured a heated argument between Republican US Senator Rand Paul and Fauci, in which Paul accused Fauci of lying about the National Institutes of Health sponsoring research at the Wuhan Institute of Virology in China. Watch | Gravitas: Norovirus outbreak in UK amid Wuhan virus resurgence Watch | COVID-19 cases rapidly rising in US as Delta variant dominates In the United States, the origins of the novel coronavirus have become a contentious political thing, with Republicans calling for more investigation into whether it was created in a Wuhan, China. Late in May, Biden directed aides to look into the virus's origins and report back to him within 90 days. COVID-19-related deaths in the United States have averaged 239 a day over the last week, up roughly 48 percent over the previous week, according to US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Rochelle Walensky. (With inputs from agencies)

Delta variant behind over 80% of new COVID-19 cases in US: Anthony Fauci

US Senator Rand Paul and Dr Anthony Fauci, one of the government's top public health experts, had a heated confrontation during a hearing Tuesday after Paul accused Fauci of lying to Congress about the role of the National Institutes of Health in supporting research in Wuhan, China.

Paul questioned Fauci about an NIH-funded study that he claims qualifies as a gain of function research, which involves&nbsp;changing a pathogen to make it more transmissible to better forecast new diseases. 
 
Watch | Gravitas: Norovirus outbreak in UK amid Wuhan virus resurgence

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In prior Senate testimony, Fauci had denied that the NIH had actively financed research at a lab in Wuhan, China, which has been questioned as a possible source of the virus.

Watch | COVID-19 cases rapidly rising in US as Delta variant dominates

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“I have not lied before Congress. I have never lied. Certainly not before Congress. Case closed,” Fauci told Paul before the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, saying a study the senator mentioned referenced a different sort of virus entirely from the one responsible for the coronavirus outbreak.

“Senator Paul, you do not know what you’re talking about, quite frankly,” Fauci said. "And I want to say that officially. You do not know what you’re talking about.”

He added, “If anybody is lying here, senator, it is you.”

(With inputs from agencies)

US Senator Rand Paul and Dr Anthony Fauci, one of the government's top public health experts, had a heated confrontation during a hearing Tuesday after Paul accused Fauci of lying to Congress about the role of the National Institutes of Health in supporting research in Wuhan, China.

US Senator Rand Paul and Dr Anthony Fauci, one of the government's top public health experts, had a heated confrontation during a hearing Tuesday after Paul accused Fauci of lying to Congress about the role of the National Institutes of Health in supporting research in Wuhan, China. Paul questioned Fauci about an NIH-funded study that he claims qualifies as a gain of function research, which involves changing a pathogen to make it more transmissible to better forecast new diseases. Watch | Gravitas: Norovirus outbreak in UK amid Wuhan virus resurgence In prior Senate testimony, Fauci had denied that the NIH had actively financed research at a lab in Wuhan, China, which has been questioned as a possible source of the virus. Watch | COVID-19 cases rapidly rising in US as Delta variant dominates “I have not lied before Congress. I have never lied. Certainly not before Congress. Case closed,” Fauci told Paul before the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, saying a study the senator mentioned referenced a different sort of virus entirely from the one responsible for the coronavirus outbreak. “Senator Paul, you do not know what you’re talking about, quite frankly,” Fauci said. "And I want to say that officially. You do not know what you’re talking about.” He added, “If anybody is lying here, senator, it is you.” (With inputs from agencies)

‘If anybody is lying here, it is you’: Fauci and Paul clash on coronavirus origins

Paul questioned Fauci about an NIH-funded study that he claims qualifies as a gain of function research, which entails changing a pathogen to make it more transmissible to better forecast new diseases.

Adding to US President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/covid-19-on-run-but-delta-variant-is-of-concern-joe-biden-urges-people-to-get-vaccinated-395658">Joe Biden’s request to the nation</a>, America’s top infectious disease expert Dr Anthony Fauci has claimed that 99.2 per cent of recent Covid deaths have been of unvaccinated people.

Fauci revealed the data at NBC’s "Meet the Press" programme where he talked about how these deaths could have been avoided if people had gotten vaccinated on time.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/dont-get-me-wrong-covid-19-has-not-been-vanquished-us-president-joe-biden-395818" hreflang="en">Don't get me wrong, COVID-19 has not been vanquished: US President Joe Biden</a>

"It's really sad and tragic that most all of these are avoidable and preventable," he said.

Talking about coronavirus as a 'formidable enemy', Fauci said the country does have a "countermeasure that's highly, highly effective. And that's the reason why it's all the more sad and all the more tragic why it isn't being completely implemented in this country."

Fauci urged people to put aside all differences, be it ideological or fundamental beliefs, and come together in fighting the common enemy of humankind.

Talking about how some countries are struggling to vaccinate locals, he reminded people that the US is fortunate to have enough vaccine doses to inoculate the majority of the population.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/ex-white-house-physician-urges-cognitive-test-for-biden-395925">WATCH |</a>

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His request has come a day after <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/joe-biden">Joe Biden</a>&nbsp;expressed concern about the Delta variant of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/coronavirus">coronavirus</a>&nbsp;in the country and said that the reason behind a 10 per cent increase in cases is the latest Delta variant which is highly contagious, especially in the areas where vaccination rates are low.

"I am concerned that people who have not gotten vaccinated have the capacity to catch the variant and spread the variant to other people who haven’t been vaccinated," Biden said. "I'm not concerned there’s going to be a major outbreak … another epidemic nationwide. But I am concerned lives will be lost."

Adding to US President Joe Biden’s request to the nation, America’s top infectious disease expert Dr Anthony Fauci has claimed that 99.2 per cent of recent Covid deaths have been of unvaccinated people.

Adding to US President Joe Biden’s request to the nation, America’s top infectious disease expert Dr Anthony Fauci has claimed that 99.2 per cent of recent Covid deaths have been of unvaccinated people. Fauci revealed the data at NBC’s "Meet the Press" programme where he talked about how these deaths could have been avoided if people had gotten vaccinated on time. Also read | Don't get me wrong, COVID-19 has not been vanquished: US President Joe Biden "It's really sad and tragic that most all of these are avoidable and preventable," he said. Talking about coronavirus as a 'formidable enemy', Fauci said the country does have a "countermeasure that's highly, highly effective. And that's the reason why it's all the more sad and all the more tragic why it isn't being completely implemented in this country." Fauci urged people to put aside all differences, be it ideological or fundamental beliefs, and come together in fighting the common enemy of humankind. Talking about how some countries are struggling to vaccinate locals, he reminded people that the US is fortunate to have enough vaccine doses to inoculate the majority of the population. WATCH | His request has come a day after Joe Biden expressed concern about the Delta variant of coronavirus in the country and said that the reason behind a 10 per cent increase in cases is the latest Delta variant which is highly contagious, especially in the areas where vaccination rates are low. "I am concerned that people who have not gotten vaccinated have the capacity to catch the variant and spread the variant to other people who haven’t been vaccinated," Biden said. "I'm not concerned there’s going to be a major outbreak … another epidemic nationwide. But I am concerned lives will be lost."

Nearly 99.2% of coronavirus deaths in US were unvaccinated, claims Anthony Fauci

US&nbsp;infectious disease expert Dr Anthony&nbsp;Fauci has said&nbsp;&nbsp;highly contagious Delta variant of the coronavirus is the "greatest threat" to&nbsp;eradicate the COVID-19 pandemic.

Fauci said the Delta variant now makes up more than 20 per cent of all new cases in the US, nearly doubling from nearly 10 per cent two weeks ago.

"The transmissibility is unquestionably greater" in the Delta variant than the original variant of COVID-19,&nbsp;Fauci&nbsp;said, adding that "it is associated with an increased disease severity."

The Delta variant is becoming the globally dominant version of the disease, the World Health Organization's chief scientist said on Friday.

More than 150 million people in the United States, or more than 45 per cent&nbsp;of the population, have been fully vaccinated, according to federal data last updated on Monday.

Fauci&nbsp;said that the vaccines authorised in the United States, including the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine, are effective against the new variant of COVID-19.

The Delta variant contributed to a severe outbreak of COVID-19 in India during April and May that overwhelmed health services in the country and killed hundreds of thousands.

The Delta variant recently became the dominant strain in the UK, surpassing the Alpha variant first discovered in the country. The strain makes up more than 90 per cent of new cases and delayed the UK's scheduled reopening.

The transmissibility of Delta variant is unquestionably greater than the wild type SARS-CoV2 as well as the Alpha variant, Fauci said, adding that it is associated with increased disease severity as reflected by hospitalisation risk compared to the Alpha variant.

(With inputs from agencies)

US infectious disease expert Dr Anthony Fauci has said highly contagious Delta variant of the coronavirus is the "greatest threat" to eradicate the COVID-19 pandemic.

US infectious disease expert Dr Anthony Fauci has said highly contagious Delta variant of the coronavirus is the "greatest threat" to eradicate the COVID-19 pandemic. Fauci said the Delta variant now makes up more than 20 per cent of all new cases in the US, nearly doubling from nearly 10 per cent two weeks ago. "The transmissibility is unquestionably greater" in the Delta variant than the original variant of COVID-19, Fauci said, adding that "it is associated with an increased disease severity." The Delta variant is becoming the globally dominant version of the disease, the World Health Organization's chief scientist said on Friday. More than 150 million people in the United States, or more than 45 per cent of the population, have been fully vaccinated, according to federal data last updated on Monday. Fauci said that the vaccines authorised in the United States, including the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine, are effective against the new variant of COVID-19. The Delta variant contributed to a severe outbreak of COVID-19 in India during April and May that overwhelmed health services in the country and killed hundreds of thousands. The Delta variant recently became the dominant strain in the UK, surpassing the Alpha variant first discovered in the country. The strain makes up more than 90 per cent of new cases and delayed the UK's scheduled reopening. The transmissibility of Delta variant is unquestionably greater than the wild type SARS-CoV2 as well as the Alpha variant, Fauci said, adding that it is associated with increased disease severity as reflected by hospitalisation risk compared to the Alpha variant. (With inputs from agencies)

Fauci calls Delta variant 'greatest threat' to eradicating COVID-19 pandemic

The Delta variant has become the dominant strain in the UK, accounting for an estimated 60% of new cases. It’s now more prevalent than the Alpha strain, formerly called the B.1.1.7 strain.

'US must vaccinate more people before Delta varient becomes dominant', says Anthony Fauci

In January 2020, a leading infectious disease expert wrote an email to Anthony Fauci - claiming that the virus shows some "unusual features" that "potentially looked engineered".

Gravitas: Covid origins: Did Fauci know the virus is "engineered"?

Amid the leaked Anthony S Fauci emails and independent investigations into the Wuhan lab secrets, reports have emerged again that the Wuhan Institute of Virology in China was funded by the US government and the virology lab, headed by Shi Zhengli, received nearly $600,000 in gain-of-function research. 
 
At a US Senate hearing on May 11, Senator Rand Paul (R-Ky) said that scientists in the US have long known how to mutate animal viruses to infect humans.

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"For years, Dr Ralph Baric, a virologist in the US, has been collaborating with Dr Shi Zhengli of the Wuhan Virology Institute, sharing his discoveries about how to create super viruses. This gain-of-function research has been funded by the NIH. Dr Fauci, do you still support funding of the NIH funding of the lab in Wuhan?," he said at&nbsp;the hearing. 
 
Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, replied: "Senator Paul, with all due respect, you are entirely and completely incorrect that the NIH has not never and does not now fund gain-of-function research in the Wuhan Institute of Virology." 
 
However, according to documents obtained by Daily Mail last year, the controversial Wuhan Institute of Virology in China undertook coronavirus experiments on bats and other wild animals which were funded by a $3.4 million grant from the US government.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-says-i-was-right-about-wuhan-lab-leak-demands-10-trillion-penalty-from-china-389378">Trump says 'I was right about Wuhan lab leak'; demands $10 trillion penalty from China</a> 
 
Zhengli, also known as the 'Bat Woman'&nbsp;is back in the limelight as the conversation around the gain-of-function research has once again started to dominate the headlines. 
 
In 2014, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, the NIH arm that Fauci heads, awarded a $3.4 million grant to the New York-based EcoHealth Alliance, which aims to protect people from viruses that jump from species to species. 
 
The group hired the virology lab in Wuhan to conduct genetic analyses of bat coronaviruses collected in Yunnan province, about 800 miles southwest of Wuhan, Tampa Bay Times reported last month. 
 
"The research was considered crucial in part because coronaviruses had previously emerged in China and begun to spread among humans. EcoHealth Alliance paid the lab $598,500 over five years. The lab had secured approval from both the US&nbsp;State Department and the NIH," the report mentioned. 
 
All parties involved in the grant to the Wuhan Institute of Virology have denied that it involved gain-of-function research.

&nbsp;

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In Wuhan, China, where the first cases of the coronavirus emerged in late 2019, at least two labs studied coronaviruses that originate in bats,&nbsp;the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV) and the Wuhan Center for Disease Control and Prevention (WHCDC). 
 
"Both are close to the seafood market that was originally deemed the source of the outbreak. The WIV is about eight miles (nearly 13 km) away. The WHCDC is right around the corner," according to a report in the Washington Post. 
 
The WIV is where Zhengli works. The WIV has a biosafety level 4 (BSL-4) laboratory, the most secure, where researchers wear protective suits. 
 
"But some of WIV`s more controversial experiments on bat coronaviruses are believed to have been done at BSL-2 labs, where researchers wear white lab coats and gloves, as in a dental office," the report mentioned. 
 
Many experts have until recently denied the lab-leak theory and claimed that <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/coronavirus">COVID-19</a> originated as a natural infection leaping from animals to humans. But now, there has been a shift. 
 
A team of 18 scientists from Universities in the US, Canada, the UK and Switzerland have signed a letter in the journal Science arguing the need to determine the origin of the Covid-19 pandemic. 
 
Various other studies have hinted at COVID-19 as a result of the Wuhan lab leak. 
 
"There is some smoke here," said the Washington Post report.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Amid the leaked Anthony S Fauci emails and independent investigations into the Wuhan lab secrets, reports have emerged again that the Wuhan Institute of Virology in China was funded by the US government and the virology lab, headed by Shi Zhengli, received nearly $600,000 in gain-of-function research.

Amid the leaked Anthony S Fauci emails and independent investigations into the Wuhan lab secrets, reports have emerged again that the Wuhan Institute of Virology in China was funded by the US government and the virology lab, headed by Shi Zhengli, received nearly $600,000 in gain-of-function research. At a US Senate hearing on May 11, Senator Rand Paul (R-Ky) said that scientists in the US have long known how to mutate animal viruses to infect humans. "For years, Dr Ralph Baric, a virologist in the US, has been collaborating with Dr Shi Zhengli of the Wuhan Virology Institute, sharing his discoveries about how to create super viruses. This gain-of-function research has been funded by the NIH. Dr Fauci, do you still support funding of the NIH funding of the lab in Wuhan?," he said at the hearing. Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, replied: "Senator Paul, with all due respect, you are entirely and completely incorrect that the NIH has not never and does not now fund gain-of-function research in the Wuhan Institute of Virology." However, according to documents obtained by Daily Mail last year, the controversial Wuhan Institute of Virology in China undertook coronavirus experiments on bats and other wild animals which were funded by a $3.4 million grant from the US government. Also Read | Trump says 'I was right about Wuhan lab leak'; demands $10 trillion penalty from China Zhengli, also known as the 'Bat Woman' is back in the limelight as the conversation around the gain-of-function research has once again started to dominate the headlines. In 2014, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, the NIH arm that Fauci heads, awarded a $3.4 million grant to the New York-based EcoHealth Alliance, which aims to protect people from viruses that jump from species to species. The group hired the virology lab in Wuhan to conduct genetic analyses of bat coronaviruses collected in Yunnan province, about 800 miles southwest of Wuhan, Tampa Bay Times reported last month. "The research was considered crucial in part because coronaviruses had previously emerged in China and begun to spread among humans. EcoHealth Alliance paid the lab $598,500 over five years. The lab had secured approval from both the US State Department and the NIH," the report mentioned. All parties involved in the grant to the Wuhan Institute of Virology have denied that it involved gain-of-function research. In Wuhan, China, where the first cases of the coronavirus emerged in late 2019, at least two labs studied coronaviruses that originate in bats, the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV) and the Wuhan Center for Disease Control and Prevention (WHCDC). "Both are close to the seafood market that was originally deemed the source of the outbreak. The WIV is about eight miles (nearly 13 km) away. The WHCDC is right around the corner," according to a report in the Washington Post. The WIV is where Zhengli works. The WIV has a biosafety level 4 (BSL-4) laboratory, the most secure, where researchers wear protective suits. "But some of WIV`s more controversial experiments on bat coronaviruses are believed to have been done at BSL-2 labs, where researchers wear white lab coats and gloves, as in a dental office," the report mentioned. Many experts have until recently denied the lab-leak theory and claimed that COVID-19 originated as a natural infection leaping from animals to humans. But now, there has been a shift. A team of 18 scientists from Universities in the US, Canada, the UK and Switzerland have signed a letter in the journal Science arguing the need to determine the origin of the Covid-19 pandemic. Various other studies have hinted at COVID-19 as a result of the Wuhan lab leak. "There is some smoke here," said the Washington Post report.

Did China's 'Bat Woman' receive $600K from US for coronavirus work?

Critics of Anthony Fauci call him a friend of China. But America's top infectious disease expert has called on Beijing to share medical records of researchers from the Wuhan Lab. Where does Fauci stand on the origins of the Wuhan virus?

Gravitas: Did Anthony Fauci downplay the "lab leak" theory?

Newly released e-mails of Dr Antony Fauci have revealed how the U.S botched up its pandemic response in the early months of 2020. From unscientific advice to mixed messages, the Trump-Fauci show was a trainwreck.

Gravitas: Fauci's e-mails reveal U.S pandemic mess

After almost a year of fighting the deadly <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/coronavirus?page=1">coronavirus</a> on behalf of the whole country, US’ top disease control official, Anthony Fauci, has opened up about his struggle in the White House with the previous administration, led by Donald Trump.

Fauci’s emails were procured by Washington Post and BuzzFeed website. These official communications of Fauci with the rest of the task force show the chaos, confusion, and struggles that the expert had to face during the first wave of the disease.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/australia-victorias-lockdown-extended-by-7-days-as-cases-surge-388887">Australia: Victoria's lockdown extended by 7 days as cases surge</a>

Recently, he also opened up about the shortage of time he faced, and the struggle he had to go through to accommodate everyone's questions while dealing with a pandemic.

"I was getting every single kind of question, mostly people who were a little bit confused about the mixed messages that were coming out of the White House and wanted to know what’s the real scoop," he told local newspaper. "I have a reputation that I respond to people when they ask for help, even if it takes a long time. And it’s very time consuming, but I do."

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-covid-19-origins-was-the-virus-manipulated-in-a-lab-388674">WATCH |</a>

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Fauci's frustration can be spotted in the emails where he has mentioned the phrase "crazy people in this world" while talking about leaders who had politicised this pandemic for their personal gain.

His emails also reveal his correspondence with Bill Gates’ foundation, Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, legendary actor Morgan Freeman and many more.

While Freeman offered to use his social media accounts to spread information about COVID-19, Zuckerberg talked about creating an information hub on Facebook regarding the symptoms, tests, effects and vaccinations for coronavirus.

Gates and Fauci talked about a "collaborative and hopefully synergistic approach to Covid-19" with the help of Gates' foundation.

While many of the emails were strictly formal, some of these also hinted towards moments of humour and informal embrace of well-being check-up among the known personalities. In one such email, Gates’s foundation director, Emilio Emini, expressed concern over Fauci’s health, considering his exposure and busy schedule. However, Fauci quickly dismissed these fears and assured that he "will try to engage as much as I can given my current circumstances."

Another email also showed a link to an article titled ‘Cuomo Crush and ‘Fauci Fever – Sexualization of These Men Is a Real Thing on the Internet’&nbsp; which talks about the phenomenon of developing a crush on the leaders and experts appearing on screens.

"It will blow your mind," Fauci laughed about the article. "Our society is really totally nuts."

After almost a year of fighting the deadly coronavirus on behalf of the whole country, US’ top disease control official, Anthony Fauci, has opened up about his struggle in the White House with the previous administration, led by Donald Trump.

After almost a year of fighting the deadly coronavirus on behalf of the whole country, US’ top disease control official, Anthony Fauci, has opened up about his struggle in the White House with the previous administration, led by Donald Trump. Fauci’s emails were procured by Washington Post and BuzzFeed website. These official communications of Fauci with the rest of the task force show the chaos, confusion, and struggles that the expert had to face during the first wave of the disease. Also read | Australia: Victoria's lockdown extended by 7 days as cases surge Recently, he also opened up about the shortage of time he faced, and the struggle he had to go through to accommodate everyone's questions while dealing with a pandemic. "I was getting every single kind of question, mostly people who were a little bit confused about the mixed messages that were coming out of the White House and wanted to know what’s the real scoop," he told local newspaper. "I have a reputation that I respond to people when they ask for help, even if it takes a long time. And it’s very time consuming, but I do." WATCH | Fauci's frustration can be spotted in the emails where he has mentioned the phrase "crazy people in this world" while talking about leaders who had politicised this pandemic for their personal gain. His emails also reveal his correspondence with Bill Gates’ foundation, Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, legendary actor Morgan Freeman and many more. While Freeman offered to use his social media accounts to spread information about COVID-19, Zuckerberg talked about creating an information hub on Facebook regarding the symptoms, tests, effects and vaccinations for coronavirus. Gates and Fauci talked about a "collaborative and hopefully synergistic approach to Covid-19" with the help of Gates' foundation. While many of the emails were strictly formal, some of these also hinted towards moments of humour and informal embrace of well-being check-up among the known personalities. In one such email, Gates’s foundation director, Emilio Emini, expressed concern over Fauci’s health, considering his exposure and busy schedule. However, Fauci quickly dismissed these fears and assured that he "will try to engage as much as I can given my current circumstances." Another email also showed a link to an article titled ‘Cuomo Crush and ‘Fauci Fever – Sexualization of These Men Is a Real Thing on the Internet’ which talks about the phenomenon of developing a crush on the leaders and experts appearing on screens. "It will blow your mind," Fauci laughed about the article. "Our society is really totally nuts."

'Will blow your mind': Fauci's emails reveal chaos, confusion during Covid

United States top infectious disease expert Anthony Fauci told lawmakers on Tuesday that the Wuhan Institute of Virology received money from the National Institutes of Health amid rising concerns over coronavirus origins.

According to Fauci, $600,000 were earmarked for the institute in Wuhan over a period of five years to study zoonotic viruses and whether bat coronaviruses could jump onto human beings.

Fauci told a House Appropriations subcommittee that the funds were being sent to the lab in China through the non-profit alliance called EcoHealth.&nbsp;

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The virus expert told lawmakers that it was “a modest collaboration with very respectable Chinese scientists who were world experts on coronavirus”, New York Post reported.

Conspiracy theories claiming that the virus originated in a lab and that the ongoing pandemic is a result of a leak from the Wuhan lab have gained traction online over the last few weeks amid increasing calls to initiate deep probes into virus origins.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/did-covid-19-emerge-naturally-anthony-fauci-not-convinced-says-further-probe-needed-387110" hreflang="en">Did COVID-19 emerge naturally? Anthony Fauci 'not convinced', says further probe needed</a>

Many on the internet believe Americans and Chinese jointly developed the virus, which may have accidentally leaked into Wuhan and then the rest of the world. But Fauci told that the funds were not employed&nbsp;in research focussed on “gain of function”, essentially suggesting that holistic scientific work was facilitated through the money.

He added that the funds were not used to enhance a virus' capability to infect humans. “That categorically was not done,” Fauci said.

Fauci further explained the decision to fund research in China, saying that the SARS scare back in early 2000s compelled researchers to take research of zoonotic viruses more seriously. “It would have been almost a dereliction of our duty if we didn’t study this, and the only way you can study these things is you’ve got to go where the action is”, New York Post cited Fauci as telling lawmakers.

A report by The Wall Street Journal released on Monday alleges that researchers at the Wuhan Institute of Virology were sick with Covid-like symptoms before the outbreak in November 2019, for which they sought medical care. Fauci, too, has urged further probe into the virus' origins.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/fauci-says-pandemic-exposed-undeniable-effects-of-racism-in-us-385518" hreflang="en">Fauci says pandemic exposed 'undeniable effects of racism' in US&nbsp;</a>

United States top infectious disease expert Anthony Fauci told lawmakers on Tuesday that the Wuhan Institute of Virology received money from the National Institutes of Health amid rising concerns over coronavirus origins.

United States top infectious disease expert Anthony Fauci told lawmakers on Tuesday that the Wuhan Institute of Virology received money from the National Institutes of Health amid rising concerns over coronavirus origins. According to Fauci, $600,000 were earmarked for the institute in Wuhan over a period of five years to study zoonotic viruses and whether bat coronaviruses could jump onto human beings. Fauci told a House Appropriations subcommittee that the funds were being sent to the lab in China through the non-profit alliance called EcoHealth. The virus expert told lawmakers that it was “a modest collaboration with very respectable Chinese scientists who were world experts on coronavirus”, New York Post reported. Conspiracy theories claiming that the virus originated in a lab and that the ongoing pandemic is a result of a leak from the Wuhan lab have gained traction online over the last few weeks amid increasing calls to initiate deep probes into virus origins. Also read: Did COVID-19 emerge naturally? Anthony Fauci 'not convinced', says further probe needed Many on the internet believe Americans and Chinese jointly developed the virus, which may have accidentally leaked into Wuhan and then the rest of the world. But Fauci told that the funds were not employed in research focussed on “gain of function”, essentially suggesting that holistic scientific work was facilitated through the money. He added that the funds were not used to enhance a virus' capability to infect humans. “That categorically was not done,” Fauci said. Fauci further explained the decision to fund research in China, saying that the SARS scare back in early 2000s compelled researchers to take research of zoonotic viruses more seriously. “It would have been almost a dereliction of our duty if we didn’t study this, and the only way you can study these things is you’ve got to go where the action is”, New York Post cited Fauci as telling lawmakers. A report by The Wall Street Journal released on Monday alleges that researchers at the Wuhan Institute of Virology were sick with Covid-like symptoms before the outbreak in November 2019, for which they sought medical care. Fauci, too, has urged further probe into the virus' origins. Also read: Fauci says pandemic exposed 'undeniable effects of racism' in US

Fauci admits Wuhan lab received 'modest' funds from US amid calls for probe into Covid origins

The origins of COVID-19 have&nbsp;been given the conspiracy theory treatment by many across the world. China’s extreme caution while referring to the first few cases of the virus in Wuhan have contributed to netizens’ curiosity over the virus’ origins.

Now, Anthony Fauci, the US’ top infectious disease expert is not entirely convinced that coronavirus originated naturally. “No actually. I am not convinced about that”, News.com.AU quoted him as saying. Speaking at an event called “United Facts of America: A Festival of Fact-Checking” earlier this month, the expert pushed for further investigation into the origins of the virus.

Fauci said that he was “not convinced” by the current explanations. “Certainly, the people who investigated it say it likely was the emergence from an animal reservoir that then infected individuals, but it could have been something else, and we need to find that out”.

He urged scientists to continue probing how the virus came into being. “So, you know, that’s the reason why I said I’m perfectly in favor of any investigation that looks into the origin of the virus,” Fauci added.

"Possibility certainly exists"

During a Senate hearing on May 11, Senator Roger Marshall from Kansas, a doctor asked Fauci on the possibility of COVID-19 emerging due to a lab accident in Wuhan. To this, the expert responded by stating that the “possibility certainly exists”. He added that he fully favours further investigation “on whether that could have happened”, New York Post reported.

A fresh report from the House Intelligence Committee, backed by the US Republican Party claims that there exists “significant circumstantial evidence” that coronavirus emerged from a lab in China.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/wuhan-lab-staff-sought-hospital-care-before-covid-19-outbreak-disclosed-wsj-387022" hreflang="en">Wuhan lab staff sought hospital care before COVID-19 outbreak disclosed: WSJ</a>

Another report by The Wall Street Journal released on Monday alleges that researchers at the Wuhan Institute of Virology were sick with Covid-like symptoms before the outbreak in November 2019, for which they sought medical care.

It is still unclear whether the virus originated from a lab. But ways to fight it remain very clear - masking up, social distancing, and washing hands often are proven ways to ward off the virus, even after vaccination.

COVID-19 first emerged in the city of Wuhan, China in December 2019. Since then, the virus has taken over 3.45 million lives with at least 166 million cases recorded globally.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/origin-of-wuhan-virus-needs-to-be-found-386627" hreflang="en">Origin of Wuhan virus needs to be found</a>

The origins of COVID-19 have been given the conspiracy theory treatment by many across the world. China’s extreme caution while referring to the first few cases of the virus in Wuhan have contributed to netizens’ curiosity over the virus’ origins.

The origins of COVID-19 have been given the conspiracy theory treatment by many across the world. China’s extreme caution while referring to the first few cases of the virus in Wuhan have contributed to netizens’ curiosity over the virus’ origins. Now, Anthony Fauci, the US’ top infectious disease expert is not entirely convinced that coronavirus originated naturally. “No actually. I am not convinced about that”, News.com.AU quoted him as saying. Speaking at an event called “United Facts of America: A Festival of Fact-Checking” earlier this month, the expert pushed for further investigation into the origins of the virus. Fauci said that he was “not convinced” by the current explanations. “Certainly, the people who investigated it say it likely was the emergence from an animal reservoir that then infected individuals, but it could have been something else, and we need to find that out”. He urged scientists to continue probing how the virus came into being. “So, you know, that’s the reason why I said I’m perfectly in favor of any investigation that looks into the origin of the virus,” Fauci added. "Possibility certainly exists" During a Senate hearing on May 11, Senator Roger Marshall from Kansas, a doctor asked Fauci on the possibility of COVID-19 emerging due to a lab accident in Wuhan. To this, the expert responded by stating that the “possibility certainly exists”. He added that he fully favours further investigation “on whether that could have happened”, New York Post reported. A fresh report from the House Intelligence Committee, backed by the US Republican Party claims that there exists “significant circumstantial evidence” that coronavirus emerged from a lab in China. Also read: Wuhan lab staff sought hospital care before COVID-19 outbreak disclosed: WSJ Another report by The Wall Street Journal released on Monday alleges that researchers at the Wuhan Institute of Virology were sick with Covid-like symptoms before the outbreak in November 2019, for which they sought medical care. It is still unclear whether the virus originated from a lab. But ways to fight it remain very clear - masking up, social distancing, and washing hands often are proven ways to ward off the virus, even after vaccination. COVID-19 first emerged in the city of Wuhan, China in December 2019. Since then, the virus has taken over 3.45 million lives with at least 166 million cases recorded globally. Also read: Origin of Wuhan virus needs to be found

Did COVID-19 emerge naturally? Anthony Fauci 'not convinced', says further probe needed

Dramatically ramping up COVID-19 vaccination drive is key to ending the crisis in India and extending the gap between two doses of Covishield is a "reasonable approach," White House chief medical adviser Dr. Anthony Fauci told ANI in an exclusive interview on Thursday.

"When you are in a very difficult situation, the way you are in India, you have to try and figure out ways to get as many people vaccinated as quickly as you can, so I believe that it is a reasonable approach to do," Fauci said.

On Thursday, the Government of India announced that the gap between the first and second doses of the Covishield COVID-19 vaccine has been increased to 12-16 weeks,&nbsp;from the existing 6-8 weeks.

This is for the second time in three months that Covishield dosage intervals have been widened and this move has once again garnered criticism, as a cover-up for not having enough vaccines for the people in India.

However, Dr Fauci said that this "extended interval" is beneficial even from the efficacy standpoint.

"The fact that you delay it that long, it is very unlikely that it would have a negative effect on the efficacy of the vaccine. I would not refer to it as a cover up when you don`t have enough vaccines," Fauci told ANI.

India is most likely to roll out Russia`s Sputnik V vaccine against the coronavirus to be administered to citizens starting next week. With this, India will now have three vaccines to boost its mega vaccination drive which was recently opened for those above 18 years.

When asked about the efficacy of the Sputnik V Vaccine, "I`ve heard about the Sputnik, is that, it seems to be quite efficacious, at a high level of close to 90 per cent or so," Fauci responded.

Last year, when the US was battling with the surge of COVID-19 cases, the Department of Defense docked two naval warships--USNS Mercy and USNS Comfort--on the coasts of New York and Los Angeles to step up the efforts in combating the virus.

Dr. Fauci, one of COVID`s most trusted names, suggests that India should step up the role of the armed forces in combating COVID-19.

"You can use the military sometimes to get things done quickly that you otherwise in the private sector would not be able to, for example, I know that there`s a shortage of hospital beds right now that people who need to be in a hospital or not getting into a hospital because of the shortage of the beds, you can get the military to put up field hospitals, the same way they would during time of war, that could serve as a substitute for the classic hospital." Fauci told ANI.

While replying to a query on resuming travel to India amid the pandemic, Fauci said, "It really is going to depend on the level of infection right now. India has a very very high level of infection. And that would mean that it would be very very difficult to resume travel there right now."

As more people around the world become vaccinated and the summer travel season is approaching, countries around the world are scrambling to get digital health certification programs or Vaccine passports in place.

However, Fauci says that US borders will not have the vaccine passport mandate.

"Several of the airlines may say you`re not going to be able to fly on our flight, unless you have a verification that you`ve been vaccinated, in essence- a vaccine passport, but again to repeat that at least in the United State-that is not going to be mandated from a federal standpoint."

India is currently experiencing a devastating surge of COVID-19 with record-breaking cases, hospitalizations and deaths.

The country`s health care system is teetering on the edge of collapse as hospitals are overcrowded and much-needed medical supplies are in low supply.

Dramatically ramping up COVID-19 vaccination drive is key to ending the crisis in India and extending the gap between two doses of Covishield is a "reasonable approach," White House chief medical adviser Dr.

Dramatically ramping up COVID-19 vaccination drive is key to ending the crisis in India and extending the gap between two doses of Covishield is a "reasonable approach," White House chief medical adviser Dr. Anthony Fauci told ANI in an exclusive interview on Thursday. "When you are in a very difficult situation, the way you are in India, you have to try and figure out ways to get as many people vaccinated as quickly as you can, so I believe that it is a reasonable approach to do," Fauci said. On Thursday, the Government of India announced that the gap between the first and second doses of the Covishield COVID-19 vaccine has been increased to 12-16 weeks, from the existing 6-8 weeks. This is for the second time in three months that Covishield dosage intervals have been widened and this move has once again garnered criticism, as a cover-up for not having enough vaccines for the people in India. However, Dr Fauci said that this "extended interval" is beneficial even from the efficacy standpoint. "The fact that you delay it that long, it is very unlikely that it would have a negative effect on the efficacy of the vaccine. I would not refer to it as a cover up when you don`t have enough vaccines," Fauci told ANI. India is most likely to roll out Russia`s Sputnik V vaccine against the coronavirus to be administered to citizens starting next week. With this, India will now have three vaccines to boost its mega vaccination drive which was recently opened for those above 18 years. When asked about the efficacy of the Sputnik V Vaccine, "I`ve heard about the Sputnik, is that, it seems to be quite efficacious, at a high level of close to 90 per cent or so," Fauci responded. Last year, when the US was battling with the surge of COVID-19 cases, the Department of Defense docked two naval warships--USNS Mercy and USNS Comfort--on the coasts of New York and Los Angeles to step up the efforts in combating the virus. Dr. Fauci, one of COVID`s most trusted names, suggests that India should step up the role of the armed forces in combating COVID-19. "You can use the military sometimes to get things done quickly that you otherwise in the private sector would not be able to, for example, I know that there`s a shortage of hospital beds right now that people who need to be in a hospital or not getting into a hospital because of the shortage of the beds, you can get the military to put up field hospitals, the same way they would during time of war, that could serve as a substitute for the classic hospital." Fauci told ANI. While replying to a query on resuming travel to India amid the pandemic, Fauci said, "It really is going to depend on the level of infection right now. India has a very very high level of infection. And that would mean that it would be very very difficult to resume travel there right now." As more people around the world become vaccinated and the summer travel season is approaching, countries around the world are scrambling to get digital health certification programs or Vaccine passports in place. However, Fauci says that US borders will not have the vaccine passport mandate. "Several of the airlines may say you`re not going to be able to fly on our flight, unless you have a verification that you`ve been vaccinated, in essence- a vaccine passport, but again to repeat that at least in the United State-that is not going to be mandated from a federal standpoint." India is currently experiencing a devastating surge of COVID-19 with record-breaking cases, hospitalizations and deaths. The country`s health care system is teetering on the edge of collapse as hospitals are overcrowded and much-needed medical supplies are in low supply.

Extended gap between two doses of Covishield reasonable approach, says Anthony Fauci

A congressional hearing on the coronavirus pandemic became heated after Republican Senator Rand Paul accused infectious diseases expert, Dr&nbsp;Anthony Fauci, for being&nbsp;personally involved in the origin of the virus.

Paul has been at the forefront of pressing Dr Fauci and other officials during COVID-19 to get answers on masking, capacity limits, and business shutdowns.

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The Republican senator claims&nbsp;that Dr&nbsp;Fauci authorised and&nbsp;funded risky research at the Wuhan Institute of Virology, where scientists performed gain-of-function research, that is, making any virus more infectious and deadly.

He said that&nbsp;was&nbsp;not examined and investigated, due to lack of curiosity from health officials and&nbsp;'pro-China bias' of the American media.

“For years, Dr. Ralph Baric, a virologist in the US, has been collaborating with Dr. Shi Zhengli from the Wuhan Virology Institute, sharing his discoveries about how to create superviruses,” Paul added.

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"Senator Paul, with all due respect, you are entirely and completely incorrect that the NIH has not ever and does not now fund gain of function research in the Wuhan institute" -- Dr. Fauci <a href="https://t.co/6KP6PeoURz">pic.twitter.com/6KP6PeoURz</a>
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) <a href="https://twitter.com/atrupar/status/1392133486337736710?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 11, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Fauci, the director of National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases said&nbsp;“Wuhan Institute of Virology&nbsp;is a Chinese institution which we assume has multiple sources of funding. It is impossible for us to be aware of nor can we account for all of their activities.”

However, a study conducted by the institute on&nbsp;construction of novel chimeric SARS-related coronaviruses able to infect human cells and lab animals cites a grant by the National Institutes of Health.

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The construction of novel chimeric SARS-related coronaviruses able to infect human cells and lab animals at WIV (1) was published with an acknowledgment to NIH grant AI110964 (<a href="https://t.co/WflZCji8Ku">https://t.co/WflZCji8Ku</a>), and (2) was reported to NIH under NIH grant AI110964 (<a href="https://t.co/lRV7MjMhQz">https://t.co/lRV7MjMhQz</a>)
— Richard H. Ebright (@R_H_Ebright) <a href="https://twitter.com/R_H_Ebright/status/1392156648349831171?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 11, 2021</a></blockquote>
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US health agencies including the&nbsp;National Institute of Health (NIH) diverted $600,000 in grants to the Wuhan Institute from 2014 to 2019 to study bat coronaviruses.

It was suspended by the Obama administration in 2014 over safety concerns. However, this year, amid the pandemic the NIH has proposed an increased in funding of&nbsp;gain-of-function research despite the possibility that coronavirus was a product of such research.

Jordan demanded to know when Americans could "get their liberty and freedoms back".

In response,&nbsp;Fauci&nbsp;said, "I don't look at this as a liberty thing… I look at this as a public health thing."

When Jordan went over his allotted question time, demanding a specific metric from&nbsp;Fauci&nbsp;for an end to coronavirus restrictions, Democratic Representative Maxine Waters interjected, telling him: "You need to respect the chair and shut your mouth."

Fauci, the director of National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, and CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky testified before the U.S. House Oversight Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis in a hybrid hearing called: "Reaching the Light at the End of the Tunnel: A Science-Driven Approach to Swiftly and Safely Ending the Pandemic."

A congressional hearing on the coronavirus pandemic became heated after Republican Senator Rand Paul accused infectious diseases expert, Dr Anthony Fauci, for being personally involved in the origin of the virus.

A congressional hearing on the coronavirus pandemic became heated after Republican Senator Rand Paul accused infectious diseases expert, Dr Anthony Fauci, for being personally involved in the origin of the virus. Paul has been at the forefront of pressing Dr Fauci and other officials during COVID-19 to get answers on masking, capacity limits, and business shutdowns. The Republican senator claims that Dr Fauci authorised and funded risky research at the Wuhan Institute of Virology, where scientists performed gain-of-function research, that is, making any virus more infectious and deadly. He said that was not examined and investigated, due to lack of curiosity from health officials and 'pro-China bias' of the American media. “For years, Dr. Ralph Baric, a virologist in the US, has been collaborating with Dr. Shi Zhengli from the Wuhan Virology Institute, sharing his discoveries about how to create superviruses,” Paul added. "Senator Paul, with all due respect, you are entirely and completely incorrect that the NIH has not ever and does not now fund gain of function research in the Wuhan institute" -- Dr. Fauci pic.twitter.com/6KP6PeoURz — Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) May 11, 2021 × Fauci, the director of National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases said “Wuhan Institute of Virology is a Chinese institution which we assume has multiple sources of funding. It is impossible for us to be aware of nor can we account for all of their activities.” However, a study conducted by the institute on construction of novel chimeric SARS-related coronaviruses able to infect human cells and lab animals cites a grant by the National Institutes of Health. The construction of novel chimeric SARS-related coronaviruses able to infect human cells and lab animals at WIV (1) was published with an acknowledgment to NIH grant AI110964 (https://t.co/WflZCji8Ku), and (2) was reported to NIH under NIH grant AI110964 (https://t.co/lRV7MjMhQz) — Richard H. Ebright (@R_H_Ebright) May 11, 2021 × US health agencies including the National Institute of Health (NIH) diverted $600,000 in grants to the Wuhan Institute from 2014 to 2019 to study bat coronaviruses. It was suspended by the Obama administration in 2014 over safety concerns. However, this year, amid the pandemic the NIH has proposed an increased in funding of gain-of-function research despite the possibility that coronavirus was a product of such research. Jordan demanded to know when Americans could "get their liberty and freedoms back". In response, Fauci said, "I don't look at this as a liberty thing… I look at this as a public health thing." When Jordan went over his allotted question time, demanding a specific metric from Fauci for an end to coronavirus restrictions, Democratic Representative Maxine Waters interjected, telling him: "You need to respect the chair and shut your mouth." Fauci, the director of National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, and CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky testified before the U.S. House Oversight Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis in a hybrid hearing called: "Reaching the Light at the End of the Tunnel: A Science-Driven Approach to Swiftly and Safely Ending the Pandemic."

Republican Senator Rand Paul accuses Anthony Fauci of funding coronavirus research

Did Joe Biden's pandemic advisor Dr. Anthony Fauci fund Wuhan Virus research? Republican Senator Rand Paul says Fauci could be personally involved in the origin of the virus. Palki Sharma separates facts from fiction.

Gravitas: Did Dr. Fauci fund Wuhan Virus research?

There is “no doubt” that the US has undercounted its number of COVID-19 related fatalities, White House chief medical advisor Dr Anthony Fauci said on May 9

'US has undercounted its COVID deaths', says Anthony Fauci

Secondary school students could be offered Covid-19 vaccinations from September under plans being developed by the NHS, it is claimed, as Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab urged caution on the “last lap” of the fight against coronavirus.

Health officials are drawing up plans to offer the vaccine to children over the age of 12.

We're very close now to turning the corner and I think we still need to be careful to go as I said we don't want to see the gains lost and the sacrifices that have been made undone. By the time we get to June 21, almost all social restrictions will be lifted, so there's only a little bit more time to go but it's right we carefully do that, the minister said.

UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said on Sunday that the UK is very close to turning the corner in its fight against the coronavirus pandemic and it is important to remain careful in the last lap of the process.

&nbsp;Meanwhile, The Sunday Times reported that health officials are drawing up plans to offer the Pfizer vaccine to secondary school pupils from September.

A document seen by the newspaper said children over the age of 12 could be offered a single dose when the new school year begins.

The move will depend on advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), which has so far focussed on advice only for adults aged 18 and over. The government target is to cover all over-18s with at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine by July-end.

(With inputs from agencies)

Secondary school students could be offered Covid-19 vaccinations from September under plans being developed by the NHS, it is claimed, as Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab urged caution on the “last lap” of the fight against coronavirus.

Secondary school students could be offered Covid-19 vaccinations from September under plans being developed by the NHS, it is claimed, as Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab urged caution on the “last lap” of the fight against coronavirus. Health officials are drawing up plans to offer the vaccine to children over the age of 12. We're very close now to turning the corner and I think we still need to be careful to go as I said we don't want to see the gains lost and the sacrifices that have been made undone. By the time we get to June 21, almost all social restrictions will be lifted, so there's only a little bit more time to go but it's right we carefully do that, the minister said. UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said on Sunday that the UK is very close to turning the corner in its fight against the coronavirus pandemic and it is important to remain careful in the last lap of the process. Meanwhile, The Sunday Times reported that health officials are drawing up plans to offer the Pfizer vaccine to secondary school pupils from September. A document seen by the newspaper said children over the age of 12 could be offered a single dose when the new school year begins. The move will depend on advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), which has so far focussed on advice only for adults aged 18 and over. The government target is to cover all over-18s with at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine by July-end. (With inputs from agencies)

UK govt plans to give Covid vaccination to children aged 12 and above

Top US infectious disease expert Anthony Fauci on Saturday urged India to go into a nationwide lockdown in response to the ongoing surge in COVID-19 cases.

"I think the most important thing in the immediate is to get oxygen, get supplies, get medication, get PPE, those kinds of things," The Indian Express quoted Fauci as saying.

Related video:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/videos/us-may-not-need-astrazeneca-covid-vaccine-says-anthony-fauci-374992" hreflang="en">'US may not need AstraZeneca Covid vaccine', says Anthony Fauci</a>

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi in an address following the surge in cases had said that he was not going to impose a national lockdown but left the onus on states to take the call. "But also, one of the immediate things to do is to essentially call a shutdown of the country," Fauci&nbsp;said during the interview.

He further said that the COVID-19 lockdown need not be extremely long. "And if you shut down, you don't have to shut down for six months. You can shut down temporarily to put an end to the cycle of transmission," he said.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/world-has-failed-india-amid-record-surge-in-covid-19-cases-says-top-us-disease-expert-fauci-381019" hreflang="en">World has failed India amid record surge in COVID-19 cases, says top US disease expert Fauci</a>

Fauci also said that “no one likes likes to lock down the country”, while urging Indian authorities to lock down the country for a “few weeks”, which in his opinion would have a considerable impact on the degree of the outbreak.

Currently, India is witnessing the worst surge reported among any country in the world with over 400,000 new cases reported nationwide on May 1. In April alone, India recorded over seven million infections which has overwhelmed healthcare system in the country.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/us-contemplating-changing-3-foot-social-distancing-rule-anthony-fauci-370452" hreflang="en">US contemplating changing 3-foot social distancing rule: Anthony Fauci</a>

New states and regions in the country have imposed lockdowns - namely the state of Maharashtra and the Union Territory of Delhi. On Saturday, Delhi extended its lockdown by a week for the second time.

(With inputs from agencies)

Top US infectious disease expert Anthony Fauci on Saturday urged India to go into a nationwide lockdown in response to the ongoing surge in COVID-19 cases. "I think the most important thing in the immediate is to get oxygen, get supplies, get medication, get PPE, those kinds of things," The Indian Express quoted Fauci as saying.

Top US infectious disease expert Anthony Fauci on Saturday urged India to go into a nationwide lockdown in response to the ongoing surge in COVID-19 cases. "I think the most important thing in the immediate is to get oxygen, get supplies, get medication, get PPE, those kinds of things," The Indian Express quoted Fauci as saying. Related video: 'US may not need AstraZeneca Covid vaccine', says Anthony Fauci Prime Minister Narendra Modi in an address following the surge in cases had said that he was not going to impose a national lockdown but left the onus on states to take the call. "But also, one of the immediate things to do is to essentially call a shutdown of the country," Fauci said during the interview. He further said that the COVID-19 lockdown need not be extremely long. "And if you shut down, you don't have to shut down for six months. You can shut down temporarily to put an end to the cycle of transmission," he said. Also read: World has failed India amid record surge in COVID-19 cases, says top US disease expert Fauci Fauci also said that “no one likes likes to lock down the country”, while urging Indian authorities to lock down the country for a “few weeks”, which in his opinion would have a considerable impact on the degree of the outbreak. Currently, India is witnessing the worst surge reported among any country in the world with over 400,000 new cases reported nationwide on May 1. In April alone, India recorded over seven million infections which has overwhelmed healthcare system in the country. Also read: US contemplating changing 3-foot social distancing rule: Anthony Fauci New states and regions in the country have imposed lockdowns - namely the state of Maharashtra and the Union Territory of Delhi. On Saturday, Delhi extended its lockdown by a week for the second time. (With inputs from agencies)

Top US disease expert Dr Fauci urges India to impose nationwide lockdown for 'few weeks'

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