Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, who has led the U.S. response to the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), has tested positive for COVID-19, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) announced on the 15th.
The National Institutes of Health issued a statement on the same day, saying Fauci, who tested positive for the rapid antigen test for COVID-19, said, “He is showing mild symptoms.”
This is the first time that Fauci, who also served as the White House’s chief medical adviser, has tested positive.
Earlier, Minister of Health and Welfare Xavier Bessera, the ministry responsible for responding to COVID-19, was recently infected twice in less than a month.
Fauci, 81, was completely vaccinated against COVID-19 and received two booster shots.
Although Fauci diagnosed that the United States had emerged from the pandemic in April, he continued to warn of the risk of a re-spreading of the coronavirus.
He said in late April that he did not attend the White House Correspondents’ Dinner for the first time in three years after the coronavirus outbreak, criticizing the loosening of quarantine consciousness.
Director Fauci led the quarantine policy at the forefront of the COVID-19 outbreak in the United States in 2020.
During the Donald Trump administration, when the White House tried to lift the coronavirus lockdown in consideration of the economic situation, Fauci opposed the proposal and even clashed with former President Trump.
Because of this, Fauci became the target of criticism from the hard-lined US, but when the Joe Biden administration took office, he served as President Biden’s chief medical adviser, leading the COVID-19 response.
The National Institutes of Health said Fauci had not had close contact with President Biden recently.
In addition, Director Fauci said that he received a prescription for Paxrobead, an edible treatment for COVID-19, and went into quarantine at his home, and will return to the office if he tests negative again.
He was scheduled to appear at a U.S. Senate hearing on the same day to report on the federal government’s response to the coronavirus and future plans, but has reportedly canceled the schedule.