Dr. Anthony Fauci, the United States’ top infectious diseases expert who has helped lead the nation through the COVID-19 pandemic, tested positive for the virus on Wednesday.
The 81-year-old Fauci, who is the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, tested positive on a rapid antigen test. The NIAID said in a statement: “He is fully vaccinated and has been boosted twice. He is currently experiencing mild symptoms.” The statement added that Fauci will isolate and continue working from his home, and plans to return to work with the National Institutes of Health once he tests negative. According to the statement, Fauci “has not recently been in close contact with President [Joe] Biden or other senior government officials.” They also said that Fauci is being treated with the antiviral medication Paxlovid.
Fauci was a member of former President Donald Trump’s White House Coronavirus Task Force in the early days of the pandemic and then served on Biden’s White House COVID-19 Response Team.
Editorial credit: Myriam B / Shutterstock.com