Fauci: school reopening should be decided locally

America's top infectious disease expert, Dr. Anthony Fauci on Tuesday said that local officials in COVID hotspots should decide when schools reopen.

Fauci was speaking at an online event organized by Georgetown University.

"We should try as the default to get the kids to stay in school. However, that's going to vary from where you are in the country and what the dynamics of the outbreak are in your particular region," Fauci said.

With many districts still finalizing how they may reopen schools this fall, President Donald Trump has ramped up pressure to get public schools back in business, threatening to withhold federal funding from those that don't resume in-person classes.

Without evidence, he's accused Democrats of wanting schools closed because of politics, not health.

Similar mudslinging is happening at school board meetings, in neighbors' social media clashes and in online petitions.

Some parents have threatened to pull their children — and the funding they provide — if masks are required.

The virus is spreading quickly in the southern and western U.S., Dr. Fauci confirmed.

"Obviously, the more you test, the more you're going to pick up. So, increase in testing is going to give you increases. But there is no doubt that there are more infections," Fauci said.

The United States is grappling with the worst coronavirus outbreak in the world, with Florida surpassing its daily record for COVID-related deaths Tuesday.