Here is an exchange between Fauci and Jim Jordon.
I think it is very disappointing that several members of the Republican Party are going at Fauci. Right wing media and some Republican members seem to have an ongoing campaign to discredit Fauci and his messaging on the pandemic.
In this particular instance Jordon was yelling at Fauci. Maybe this was for political theatre, to instil emotions in his base (IDK).
It appeared that he was angry at Fauci for the impact of Covid-19 and the social distancing and lockdowns etc. Which is weird because the disease and the Government in response to the disease is causing these lockdowns, not Fauci.
Ultimately it is the Governors or the Federal government who make the decisions. The scientists only make recommendations. Fauci is an expert in infectious diseases, he isn't an economist, he isn't a psychologist and he isn't government, so his advice is with regards to the disease and not with regards to the economy.
So it really is inappropriate to question Fauci on when the restrictions are going to be removed. Only the governors or the Federal government can make that decision.
Better questions would be "When would Fauci recommend people no longer wear masks, when would Fauci recommend restrictions on mass gatherings be lifted?"
But I would expect that it is more complicated than specifying a date. Trump said it would be lifted by Easter 2020 which was obviously way off the mark. I think it would be more complicated than saying once the public is x% vaccinated as their might be strains that the vaccine doesn't work against.
But I do agree that the government should be formulating under what criteria should restrictions be lifted and Fauci should be one of many experts giving advice on that.
In NZ we have a 4 stage alert system which specified various levels of restrictions. Our government has been pretty clear on what moves us up and down the alert system. But from the outside looking in, USA seems to be a complete mess right now, disease is running rampant, thousands of people dying, I really think it is too early for USA to be arguing about when restrictions are to be lifted. USA folk should be working out how they can flatten their curve, working out why they haven't yet been able to do enough to get the infection rate down, NZ was at this stage in March/April 2020, we dealt with it and now we have very little restrictions internally. No masks, no gatherings limits.
Anyway, I see very little value in yelling at Fauci over restrictions. If only these Republican members who are attacking Fauci could instead get serious about the pandemic, lead by example to get the public to take measures to get the infection rates down, ask constructive and appropriate questions of the expert scientists, challenge the government on the measures taken and why these aren't leading to significant drops in the infection rates.
