Fauci won’t appear in Senate after exposure to White House staffer infected with coronavirus, Pence will also be self-isolating
Dr. Anthony Fauci plans to skip the strict coronavirus quarantine despite being exposed to a top White House staffer who has tested positive for the virus. The top pandemic doctor told CBS News he will bend the rules by showing up in person for a Senate hearing set for Tuesday on the government’s response to the pandemic.(Alex Brandon/AP Photo)
Dr. Anthony Fauci won’t show up in person in the Senate after all.
The top pandemic doctor decided not to bend the rules by showing up in person for a Senate hearing set for Tuesday on the government’s response to the pandemic.
He changed his mind after initially vowing to appear in person despite being exposed to a top White House staffer who has tested positive for the virus.
“Fauci ... will appear by videoconference,” along with other officials, CNN reported.
News - It’s not just Hahn and Redfield who will testify remotely at the Senate HELP hearing on Tuesday. Fauci and Giroir will appear by videoconference as well, per source
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Fauci, who says he is observing a previously unknown “modified quarantine" regimen, has said he would wear a face mask and observe social distancing requirements when he answers questions from senators.
He admits having what he calls “low risk” contact with Katie Miller, the spokeswoman for Vice President Mike Pence who tested positive on Friday.
Fauci, who has tested negative for COVID-19 so far, says he will mostly work from home for the next two weeks and will only go into work at the National Institutes for Health if he is alone in the office.
The heads of the Centers for Disease Control and the Food and Drug Administration are both staying home due to the same supposedly low-risk contact with Katie Miller.
Katie Miller’s husband, controversial White House aide Stephen MIller, will stay out of the White House until his coronavirus infection status can be determined.
A military officer who works as a valet to President Trump has also tested positive for the deadly virus.
Pence decided to self-isolate on Sunday. However, he insisted on going ahead with a trip to Iowa on Friday even after hearing of Katie Miller’s infection.
Trump himself has not taken a similar action despite having met with Pence.
Some health experts question if it is wise for the two most powerful men in the nation to have extensive contact with one another during the pandemic.
Fauci’s appearance will mark the first time he has been seen by the vast majority of Americans since Trump effectively scrapped his daily nationally televised press conferences.
The White House wants to focus more on reopening the economy and hopes to distract attention from the sharply rising death toll from the still-spreading pandemic, which has already killed more than 80,000 Americans and counting.
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