The new, apparently more infectious coronavirus strain spreading throughout Britain is most likely already in the United States, Dr. Anthony Fauci told PBS NewsHour.
"I would not be surprised if it's already here," the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases director said, citing the prominence of international travel, especially between the two countries. "When we start to look for it, we're going to find it."
Former Food and Drug Administration chief Dr. Scott Gottlieb was even more emphatic, telling CNBC that the new strain "is already in the U.S." and that the coronavirus will keep on mutating until vaccination is widespread enough to end the pandemic.
Despite this, Fauci said a ban on travelers from the U.K. would be "premature," even as many countries have already taken that step, telling CNN that the U.S. should "without a doubt keep an eye on" the new strain, but "we don't want to overreact."
If the subject came up at a White House Coronavirus Task Force meeting, Fauci said he would be against suspending flights from the U.K., telling PBS that "I don't think that that kind of a draconian approach is necessary. I think we should seriously consider the possibility of requiring testing of people before they come from the U.K. here. But I don't think that there is enough evidence right now to essentially lock down any travel from the U.K."
The U.K. put London and areas of southeast England under new lockdown restrictions over the weekend after officials there identified the new strain, which they estimated could be 70% more transmissible, according to Business Insider.
Brian Freeman ✉
Brian Freeman, a Newsmax writer based in Israel, has more than three decades writing and editing about culture and politics for newspapers, online and television.
© 2024 Newsmax. All rights reserved.