‘People don’t like to be told what to do’: Anthony Fauci admits Americans have mask mandate ‘fatigue’ – as New York City mulls bringing them BACK
- COVID cases are spiking in some parts of the country as winter weather illnesses like the flu and other respiratory infections surge
- The spike in infections has caused some public health officials in big cities like Los Angeles and New York to
- Fauci acknowledged that despite spiking case rates, Americans have ‘fatigue’ when it comes to mandates and don’t like being told what to do
On Friday, Dr. Anthony Fauci acknowledged that there is a certain ‘fatigue’ about the mandates pertaining to COVID-19 even as cases begin to climb during the winter months.
Speaking with Fox 5 New York, Fauci – who will step down from his position at the National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Disease this month – said that local health authorities should be the ones making calls about COVID restrictions, but he is aware that people ‘don’t like being told what to do.’
‘You would like people to use good judgment to protect themselves and their family,’ he told Good Day New York. But, ‘there is a fatigue about being mandates. People don’t like to be told what to do.’
He added, however, that when there is an uptick in infections, ‘which is followed by an uptick in hospitalizations, you want to make sure you do something to mitigate against that.’
Fauci – who is stepping down as NIAID director this month – said he believes Americans are suffering from COVID mandate ‘fatigue’
Residents of New York City and Los Angeles may have to brace for another round of COVID mandates as local health officials warn that rates are surging
CDC Director Rochelle Walensky warned that flu cases are spiking in their highest numbers in a decade and told Americans to get vaccinated against COVID and the flu
In New York and Los Angeles, officials are toying with bringing mask mandates back in some form as winter surges occur. Officials in Phoenix, Arizona continue to push for vaccination as flu season hits alongside COVID alongside a spiking number of cases of RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) in children,
Fauci became the national face of COVID response early during the pandemic and later became divisive as political sentiment and policy opinion began to stray strictly from his recommendations.
Beyond the general public being distrustful of orders from the government, Fauci added that he is concerned about a ‘not very vigorous uptake’ of the omicron-specific booster shot.
‘People want to be done with COVID,’ he said. ‘We’ve all been exhausted over the last three years. But there is still a lot to do to protect yourself and your family, and ultimately, your community.’
CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said last Monday that ‘Flu hospital admissions reported through HHS’s hospital surveillance system, which were already high for this time of year, have nearly doubled during the last reporting period.
‘Compared to the week prior, hospitalizations for flu continue to be the highest we have seen at this time of year in a decade, demonstrating the significantly earlier flu season we are experiencing,’ she continued.
Walensky recommended Americans get vaccinated against the flu and COVID and wear a high-quality, well-fitting mask to prevent the continued spread of either viral infection.
Advertisement
