Coronavirus overreaction may keep us away from the worst-case scenario, Dr. Anthony Fauci says

Coronavirus outbreak continues to dominate the news cycle. So far, the COVID-9 virus has claimed over 5,000 lives with over 100,000 reported cases. Here in the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other government organizations are calling citizens to avoid large events and mass gatherings that could contribute to the spread of COVID-19 in the United as ways to control the spread of the virus and “flatten the curve.” CDC also recommends that for the next 8 weeks, organizers (whether groups or individuals) cancel or postpone in-person events that consist of 50 people or more throughout the United States.

Some think the panic over the coronavirus is overblown and could potentially do more damage to citizens,  paralyze our economy, and change our ways of lives as we know it. However, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the head of tthe National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, says the nation’s response, though may seems overblown, could potentially prevent the worst-case scenario.

During his appearance on CNN’s “State of the Union,” Dr. Fauci said, “[Y]ou block infections from coming in, and then within is when you have containment and mitigation.” He added: “And that’s the reason why the kinds of things we’re doing that may seem like an overreaction will keep us away from that worst-case scenario.” The CDC reportedly determined that the worst-case scenario for the virus could involve up to 214 million infections and 1.7 million deaths.

Fauci also warned that while the greatest threat from the virus is believed to be to elderly people and those with underlying medical conditions, young people should be aware of the risk to themselves as well. “Younger people should be concerned for two reasons. You are not immune or safe from getting seriously ill” and younger patients can still act as carriers for the virus, Fauci added.