Top US virus expert warns on lockdown as world gets back to work

by Issam AHMED with AFP bureaus

Washington’s top virus expert warned against easing lockdowns too quickly Tuesday as Russia and India defied surging death tolls to start getting back to work.

Government epidemiologist Anthony Fauci’s stark words fed concerns that even a cautious exit from the world’s unprecedented economic shutdown could trigger a second coronavirus wave.

In testimony to US lawmakers, Fauci admitted the true number killed by the epidemic in the United States is likely higher than the official toll of 80,000 — the world’s highest.

And despite US President Donald Trump’s evident desire to restart the economy, Fauci warned that if cities and states ignore guidelines on exiting their lockdowns safely “the consequences could be really serious”.

This follows a warning from the World Health Organization that a second wave of the disease, which has killed more than 286,000 people around the world, could erupt if new infections escape controls.

And it comes as Russia began to gradually ease lockdown rules even as the country’s infections surged past 232,000 — now the second most confirmed cases in the world after the US.

The country hit the dire landmark Tuesday after a week of reporting more than 10,000 daily infections and as it was confirmed that President Vladimir Putin’s spokesman tested positive for the virus.

But some parts of the country hummed back to life Tuesday — the end of a “non-working” period that allowed some people to return to their jobs again.

For those braving public transport, masks and gloves were a must in line with new anti-virus rules.

“It’s positive, because it’s a necessary measure,” said 25-year-old Tatiana Khan, speaking on a half-empty bus in Moscow.

“If everyone had worn masks from the start, observed the precautions, I think we wouldn’t have had such a spread of the epidemic,” she added from behind a surgical mask. (AFP)