'You put words in my mouth': Fauci and Rep. Jim Jordan clash over police brutality protests at House Coronavirus hearing
Home >>
Representative Jim Jordan and Dr. Anthony Fauci at a subcommittee hearing on the coronavirus crisis on July 31, 2020. Kevin Dietsch / Pool via APir
Dr.. Anthony Fauci collided with Rep. Jim Jordan at a subcommittee hearing on Friday on whether the government should address protests to stem the spread of COVID-19.
"I am unable to determine what the government can do powerfully," said Fauci, adding, "You should stay away from the crowds no matter where the crowds are."
👈Sharing is caring!👇
Jordan repeatedly tried to corner Fauci by saying that the government should limit the protests, but Fauci refused because he said it was not his place to weigh in on what the government should or should not do.
"I don't understand what you're asking me, as a public health officer, to decide who should be arrested or not," said Fauci. "That is not my position. You can ask me as many questions as you want, and I'm not going to answer it. "
Scroll down to view a fragment of the exchange.
Dr. Anthony Fauci and Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan became heated on Friday at a hearing from the House subcommittee on the new coronavirus.
One of President Donald Trump's largest attack dogs on Capitol Hill,
Jordan repeatedly asked Fauci to investigate whether widespread protests helped spread COVID-19.
Fauci said that in general, large crowds, especially people who don't wear masks, contribute to higher infection and transmission rates.
"Should the government restrict protest?" Jordan asked.
"I don't think that's relevant," said Fauci, adding, "I am unable to determine what the government can do with vigor."
Jordan urged Fauci and said, "You're making all kinds of recommendations."
He said the governments of the state restricted people attending church services and asked Fauci, "Is there a world where the Constitution says you can favor the freedom of the first amendment, protest over another, practice your faith?"
"I don't prefer anyone over anyone," said Fauci. "I'm just making a statement that is a broad statement, avoiding crowds of any type wherever you are, because that leads to the acquisition and transfer. And I don't judge one crowd against another.
When you're not in a crowd, especially if you're not wearing a mask, it causes the spread. "I have not seen people go out during a church service harming police officers or burning buildings, but we know they are happening for nine weeks in Portland for 63 days," said Jordan, referring to protests against racism and police brutality in the city since the death of George Floyd on Memorial Day. Many of the demonstrations turned into violence after federal law enforcement officers used tear gas, rubber bullets, and other equipment to disperse protesters.
There is "no limit to protests," said Jordan, but "you can't go to church on Sunday."
"I don't know how many times I can answer that," Fauci replied. "I don't intend to limit anything."
Jordan pushed back and told Fauci that he was "based on many things."
"You should stay away from the crowds, wherever the crowds are," said Fauci.
"The government has stopped people from going to work," said Jordan, citing reports of two people arrested after reopening their gym. He added, "Do you see the inconsistency, Doctor Fauci?"
Fauci said there was "no inconsistency". Jordan replied, "You may protest - millions of people one day, in the crowd, screaming, screaming - but trying to run your business will get you under arrest?"
Fauci, who seemed increasingly frustrated, said, "I don't understand what you're asking me, as a public health officer, to determine who should be arrested or not. That's not my position. You might ask me as much as you want, and I'm not going to answer it. "
Jordan then claimed that Fauci had said protests increased the spread of the virus, but Fauci withdrew." I said crowds, "he said." I didn't say specifically - I said no protests. "
"So the protests aren't increasing the spread of the virus?" Jordan said.
"I didn't say that," said Fauci. "You put words in my mouth."
He added, "I can tell you that masses are known, especially if you don't have a mask, to increase acquisition and transmission regardless of the mass."
The US coronavirus death toll surpassed 151,000 this week, the highest in any country, when asked how other countries managed to control their COVID-19 outbreaks, Fauci said that when the pandemic broke out, countries in Europe and Asia, 95% of their economies closed, while the US closed only 50%
At the hearing, Jim Clyburn, South Carolina representative, showed a graph showing the peak in business in the US compared to business in Europe, which Trump's anger drew.
"Someone tells Congressman Clyburn, who has no idea, that the graph he drew up shows more CASES for the US than for Europe, because we are testing MUCH MORE than any other country in the world," tweeted Trump.
But several public health officials and scientific experts have pointed out that although the US is testing and contact tracing capacity has expanded rapidly, which not only explains the increase in new cases.
"that states find more cases in proportion to the number of tests they run, the strongest rebuttal to the administration's claim is that the number of cases increases because we get better by finding more tests, "said Jennifer Nuzzo, epidemiologist at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, wrote in The Washington Post last month.
"They tell us the opposite - that each of these states needs to do even more testing to find infections - followed by tighter contact tracking and isolation."
No comments: