Fauci Makes Prediction About When Pandemic Could End

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – As COVID-19 cases continue to rise across the U.S., many health experts agree that there’s no way to tell how long this latest surge will last. Some experts say a rise in vaccinations will lead to more control over the virus. But, it’s likely to be around for the foreseeable future.

However, Dr. Anthony Fauci is putting a prediction out there of when things will be better. Fauci says, “If we can get through this winter and get really the majority – overwhelming majority – of the 90 million people who have not been vaccinated, vaccinated, I hope we can start to get some good control in the spring of 2022.”

Some U.S. health experts believe the virus will end up being seasonal, like a cold or flu, and we must learn to co-exist with the coronavirus. CNN Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta says, “It changes just like the weather does. There may be times you need to pull out an umbrella. There’s time you don’t go inside some places.”

But with children going back to school this month, and Wednesday in Mecklenburg County, the fear of children catching the virus, is rising for parents. A local school district is defying a state law by mandating that masks be worn on all school campuses. The Chester County School Board passed the mandate during Monday night’s meeting. It goes into effect on August 30. South Carolina law prohibits schools from requiring masks. Governor Henry McMaster has repeatedly said that schools can not implement masking requirements. That goes against the advice of the CDC, which recommends that everyone wear masks in K-12 schools, regardless of vaccination status.

South Carolina is being sued over its mask mandate ban. The American Civil Liberties Union filed a federal lawsuit against the governor, attorney general, and superintendent of education. The lawsuit argues the ban effectively excludes vulnerable students from public schools because of their underlying health conditions. The suit says that schools have a legal obligation to protect their students.

Our question of the night: would you feel more comfortable sending your kids to school, knowing masks are mandated?

This episode’s panel features:
WCCB TV’s Morgan Fogarty
WCCB News @ Ten anchor Drew Bollea
WCCB News Edge contributor Ashley Anderson