Anthony Fauci gets security detail after receiving threats as well as 'unwelcome communications' from admirers
Top infectious diseases expert, Dr, Anthony Fauci, who has emerged as the face of reason for America's coronavirus outbreak response, is reportedly receiving death threats. Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, was brought into the national Coronavirus Task Force as the virus cases in the United States began rising. The 79-year-old frequently appears alongside President Donald Trump during the daily White House press briefing on the government's response to the pandemic.
Fauci, one of the few officials willing to correct Trump on his misstatements, has now been given security protection after he received multiple threats and "unwelcome communications" from his admirers.
A report in the Washington Post stated: "The concerns include threats as well as unwelcome communications from fervent admirers, according to people with knowledge of deliberations inside the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Justice. The exact nature of the threats against him was not clear. Greater exposure has led to more praise for the doctor but also more criticism."
The Post reported that the Department of Heath and Human Services Secretary, Alex Azar, had recently expressed concerns about Fauci's safety as his public profile became prominent and he endured more "vitriolic criticism online."
The expert's admirers, in recent weeks, have also approached him, with some asking him to sign baseballs. After the rise in such instances, it was decided that Fauci needs to be given a security detail.
The 79-year-old has recently pressed Trump to extend the timeline for social distancing and was blunt in stating grim outlook of the possible toll of the pandemic in the country, saying it could be as high as 240,000. A spokesperson, in a statement, to the outlet, said: "Dr. Fauci is an integral part of the U.S. government's response against Covid-19. Among other efforts, he is leading the development of a Covid-19 vaccine and he regularly appears at White House press briefings and media interviews."
Fauci has also become a target for right-win commentators and bloggers, who are urging Trump to ease lockdown restrictions so that the economy can function smoothly again.
The expert, last month, had said that he has to tell Trump facts many times to get his point across to him. Fauci, however, added that he will "keep pushing" to correct any inaccuracies about the deadly virus being relayed by the White House. The doctor, in an interview with Science, said that "when you're dealing with the White House, sometimes you have to say things 1,2,3,4 times, and then it happens. So I'm going to keep pushing."
The top immunologist added that he tries to correct Trump, however, he "cannot jump in front of the microphone and push him down." Dr. Fauci also frowned on the president for publicly shaking hands with people despite experts across the world urging people to not make physical contact amid the outbreak.
"I say that to the task force. I say that to the staff. We should not be doing that," Dr. Fauci said of Trump's penchant for shaking the hand of everyone around. "Not only that - we should be physically separating a bit more on those press conferences."
The expert said that he was pushing for the White House to adopt virtual press conferences in light of the rapid increase in coronavirus cases to avoid briefings crowded with experts, politicians, and journalists. The White House press conferences have been contradicting official advice to not gather in groups of more than ten people.