Fauci tells Cuomo COVID vaccine key to a return to normalcy

ALBANY, N.Y. (WCAX) - Dr. Anthony Fauci was a guest on Monday during New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s COVID-19 briefing.

The two discussed a lot of things, including the COVID vaccine set to be released this month

Governor Cuomo says he’s heard people say they don’t trust the vaccine and that they won’t get it.

He said he will get the vaccine publicly to show that it is OK.

Dr. Fauci, the director of the NIAID, says people not getting the vaccine will play a large role in trying to get the virus under control but he hopes after it’s given to the mass population we should see control by next summer.

“The virus will not have any place to go. It’s almost metaphorically, if you think the virus is looking for some victims when most of the people are protected, the virus has a hard time latching on to someone. When that happens, governor, is entirely dependent upon how well we do, I do, you do, your health officials in getting the message out there on why it is so important for people to get,” Fauci said.

Fauci and Cuomo said if everything goes as planned and 70%-80% of people get the vaccination, things could start getting back to normal by next summer.

Meanwhile, Cuomo has ordered hospitals across New York to increase bed capacity by 25%, and he warns he’ll curtail indoor dining if hospitalization keeps going up.

Cuomo told reporters Monday that more than 4,600 COVID-19 patients are now hospitalized statewide, double the amount reported Nov. 18.

He says the state isn’t yet at a “critical” level of COVID-19 patients, but he says the continued growth is worrying.

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