Fauci says 'rolling reentry' of US economy possible in May

United States’ top infectious disease expert said Sunday that ecomy in parts of country could have a “rolling reentry” as early as next month, provided health authorities can quickly identify and isolate people who will inevitably be infected with

Dr. Anthony Fauci also said he “can't guarantee" that it will be safe for Americans to vote in person on Election Day, v. 3.

Rar than flipping a switch to reopen entire country, Fauci said a grual process will be required based on status of pandemic in various parts of U.S. and availability of rapid, widespre testing. Once number of people who are seriously ill sharply declines, officials can begin to “think about a grual reentry of some sort of rmality, some rolling reentry," Fauci said.

In some places, he said, that might occur as soon as May. “We are hoping that, at end of month, we could look around and say, OK, is re any element here that we can safely and cautiously start pulling back on? If so, do it. If t, n just continue to hunker down," Fauci said.

Whenever restrictions ease, Fauci said, “we kw that re will be people who will be getting infected. I mean, that is just reality. “

Social distancing guidelines imposed by President Donald Trump are set to expire April 30.

Trump is er to restart ecomy, which has stalled because most Americans are under orders to “stay at home” to help slow virus’ spre.

But goverrs will have a lot to say about when to ease restrictions in ir states, and leers of Maryland and New Jersey indicated Sunday that y are t likely to do so until widespre testing is available.

“ question is how fast we can get eugh tests up to speed in order to help us get to point where we are able to do all of those things," Gov. Larry Hogan, R-Md., said. He said he has set “artificial deline."

Gov. Phil Murphy, D-N.J., said risks of reopening too soon are dangerously high. “And I fear, if we open up too early, and we have t sufficiently me that health recovery and cracked back of this virus, that we could be pouring gasoline on fire, even invertently," Murphy told.

Increased testing would allow authorities to identify, isolate and trace contacts of people who are newly infected, Fauci said.

Or scientists have echoed Fauci's call for a grual reopening, where restrictions can be ramped up or down.

Trump continues to deny continuing problems with coronavirus testing that’s available, including shorts and long wait times for people to learn results. He’s also resistant to idea of more widespre testing, saying last week that “it’s unnecessary” and that “vast areas of our country don’t need this.”

Speaking about prospects of Americans physically going to polling places in vember, Fauci said he hopes voting in person can take place.

“I believe that if we have a good, measured way of rolling into this, steps towards rmality, that we hope, by time we get to vember, that we will be able to do it in a way which is standard way,” he said..

“However — and I don’t want to be pessimistic person — re is always possibility, as we get into next fall, and beginning of early winter, that we could see a rebound," he said.

U.S. has most confirmed cases and deaths of any nation, more than 530,000 and 20,600, respectively, according to Johns Hopkins University. In hard-hit New York, number of deaths has topped 700 for five straight days, but increase in people who are hospitalized is slowing, in a hopeful sign.

For most people, new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older ults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, and death.

Fauci was on CNN's “State of Union.'' Hogan appeared on ABC's ”This Week'' and Murphy was on CNN and CBS' “Face Nation.”

(Im Credit: AP)