Head of U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Anthony Fauci claims that the darkest days of the coronavirus pandemic are still ahead. According to the doctor, the United States could see a new outbreak of the disease in January, when the winter holidays will be over; a lot of people will spend their holidays with their families and friends, which is likely to cause the new spike of the virus. Fauci said so in an interview интервью CNN, as quoted by Voice of America.
"We are very likely to see the after-holiday outbreak, I mean after Christmas and New Year. With 120,000 people hospitalized daily, we are actually in the critical phase now", the official said.
The doctor added that, in spite of the recommendations of his colleagues to stay at home, people find it too difficult to do so during holidays, so he does not even expect it to happen.
Speaking about possible appearance of collective immunity against coronavirus, Fauci assumed it could emerge next summer. "So I hope that by autumn, we'll have this necessary percent of people", he said, referring to the minimal required number of people for shaping the collective immunity.