Randal (Rand) Howard Paul Second GOP Senator to Quarantine After Coronavirus Exposure GOP Senator to Quarantine After Coronavirus Exposure The Hill’s Morning Report – Sponsored by National Industries for the Blind – Trump seeks to reverse the story of “Rage”; Dems block COVID-19 bill PLUS (R-Ky.) At a congressional hearing Wednesday after the senator claimed COVID-19 cases may not increase in New York City due to collective immunity. Fauci, the country’s leading infectious disease physician, told Paul he was wrong in making the suggestion, and he said Paul was wrong in other public comments on the concept of herd immunity as well. .
“No, you have misinterpreted this, senator, and you have done it several times in the past,” Fauci said.
Dr. Fauci is pretty much fed up with Rand Paul, basically calling him a jerk.
“It happens with Senator Rand all the time… If you think 22% is collective immunity, I believe you are on your own in this area. pic.twitter.com/BdsuGsz8TI
– Justin Baragona (@justinbaragona) September 23, 2020
The Fauci also appeared to criticize Paul for his comments on the coronavirus, which this week has killed more than 200,000 people in the United States.
“If you think 22 percent is collective immunity, I believe you’re on your own in that,” Fauci told Paul at the hearing, referring to the number of New Yorkers suspected of having had COVID -19.
The exchange took place during a Senate Health Committee hearing where Fauci and others testify about the pandemic.
Paul, who has frequently criticized lockdowns aimed at preventing the spread of the coronavirus while questioning their effectiveness, asked Fauci if he had any doubts about his support for such measures given statistics from other countries.
He claimed that mitigation measures such as closing theaters, bars and limiting restaurant capacity had no impact as the New York tri-state area had the highest coronavirus death rate. high of the country.
“It is important that we the people do not simply consent to authoritarian mandates over our behavior without first asking the foster state to prove its hypothesis,” Paul said. “What we do know is that New York and New Jersey, Connecticut and Rhode Island have historically had the highest death rates in the world. ”
Fauci said New York had been “hit hard enough” but the state had managed to reduce its positivity to around 1% because New Yorkers followed recommendations such as wearing masks, keeping a physical distance and staying outside more than inside.
When Paul pitched the theory that New Yorkers have now developed enough immunity that they are no longer in danger, Fauci sounded irritated and said the senator was completely off the base.
“I dispute that, senator,” Fauci said, before asking for more time to complete his answer “because it happens with Senator Rand all the time.”
“You don’t listen to what the CDC director [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] said in New York [the infection rate is] about 22 percent. If you think 22% is collective immunity, I think you’re on your own in this area, ”Fauci said.
