Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said the White House coronavirus task force could eventually recommend that everyone wear masks to help stop the spread of the disease.
Fauci admitted that such a recommendation could be inhibited by the lack of personal protective equipment. For weeks, public health officials cautioned nonmedical professionals from buying masks as hospitals around the United States struggled to find enough protective equipment for healthcare workers.
“The idea of getting a much more broad, communitywide use of masks outside of the healthcare setting is under very active discussion at the task force. The CDC group is looking at that very carefully,” Fauci told CNN on Tuesday.
“The thing that has inhibited that a bit is to make sure that we don’t take away the supply of masks from the healthcare workers who need them,” he continued. “But, when we get in a situation where we have enough masks, I believe there will be some very serious consideration about more broadening this recommendation of using masks.”
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Fauci said one of the best ways to prevent a sick person from infecting someone else is a mask.
President Trump said he was open to the idea during the task force’s briefing on Monday.
“We’ll take a look at it. For a period of time, not forever. I mean, you know, we want our country back. We’re not going to be wearing masks forever,” Trump said.
Over the weekend, Trump said he was extending social distancing guidelines nationwide until at least April 30. That was after Fauci suggested that millions could get infected in the U.S., resulting in 100,000 to 200,000 deaths.
