“I think we’re seeing the development of a much more common but less severe infection,” Fauci told Der Spiegel. “At least we hope so, but there are no guarantees.”
If enough people are vaccinated or recovered, Corona could soon become another respiratory disease that is no longer a problem for most of the population, Fauci said. “Maybe that will be the case soon, but it’s not certain yet.” The experience so far has been: “The virus did what viruses tend to do: it surprised us.”
Dangers of another mutation
There are still many countries, particularly those with low and middle incomes, where vaccination coverage is very low. So there will continue to be a smoldering infection process. “In this way we give the virus the opportunity to mutate – and it is conceivable that the next variant is not only more contagious, but also causes more severe disease progression,” said Fauci.
The presidential adviser lamented the social divisions, discord and political instrumentalization in the USA. Extremists claimed that he “created the virus, which of course is completely absurd”. Because he is committed to vaccination and wearing a mask, he has become “an enemy for some people,” says Fauci. “They make up lies about me. (…) And if you repeat that often enough on social media, people who are a little crazy get the feeling that they have to get rid of this person who is supposedly taking their freedom away.” He finds that “very, very disturbing”.