Exchange of the Day

Science Magazine‘s Jon Cohen has a fascinating interview with Dr. Anthony Fauci on the coronavirus pandemic:

COHEN: What about the travel restrictions? President Trump keeps saying that the travel ban for China, which began 2 February, had a big impact and that he wishes China would have told us three to four months earlier and that they were “very secretive.” It just doesn’t comport with facts.

FAUCI:  I know, but what do you want me to do? I mean, seriously Jon, let’s get real, what do you want me to do?

COHEN: Most everyone thinks that you’re doing a remarkable job, but you’re standing there as the representative of truth and facts but things are being said that aren’t true and aren’t factual.

FAUCI: The way it happened is that after he made that statement, I told the appropriate people, it doesn’t comport,  because two or three months earlier would have been September. The next time they sit down with him and talk about what he’s going to say, they will say, by the way, Mr. President, be careful about this and don’t say that. But I can’t jump in front of the microphone and push him down. OK, he said it. Let’s try and get it corrected for the next time.

COHEN: You have not said China virus.

FAUCI: Ever.

COHEN. And you never will, will you?

FAUCI: No.