-What measure, what standard, what objective outcome do
we have to reach before Americans
get their liberty and freedoms back?
-You know, you're indicating liberty and freedom.
I look at it as a public health measure
to prevent people from dying and going to the hospital.
-You don't think Americans' liberties
have been threatened the last year, Dr Fauci?
They've been assaulted!
Their liberties have!
-I don't look at this as a liberty thing,
Congressman Jordan. -Well, that's obvious!
-I look at this as a public health thing.
I disagree with you on that completely.
-You think the Constitution is suspended
during a virus, during a pandemic?
It's certainly not.
-This will end, for sure,
when we get the level of infection very low.
It is now at such a high level,
there's a threat again of major surge.
-Dr Fauci.
-You're making this a personal thing and it isn't.
-It's not a personal thing. -You are!
That is exactly what you're doing.
-No, your recommendations carry a lot of weight, Dr Fauci.
-Yeah.
-We just had the chair of the Financial Services Committee
said she loves you and you're the greatest thing in the world.
-Will the gentleman yield?
-My recommendations are consistent.
-Will the gentleman yield? -No, it's my [indistinct].
-Could I answer the question, please?
My recommendations are not a personal recommendation.
It's based on the CDC guidance, which is underscored.
-And I'm asking the question,
what measures have to be attained
before Americans get their First Amendment liberties back?
-I just told you that.
-No, you haven't given anything specific.
You said, "We hope when this".
Tell me, specifically, what measures have to be reached.
-Right now, we have about 60,000 infections a day,
which is a very large risk for a surge.
We're not talking about liberties.
We're talking about a pandemic
that has killed 560,000 Americans.
-And I get that, Doctor.
-That's what we're talking about.
-I don't disagree with that and I understand
how serious that is, but I also understand
it's pretty serious when businesses have been shut down,
people can't go to church,
people can't assemble in their own homes
with their friends, with their families.
People can't go to a loved one's funeral.
People can't get to their government,
petition their representative to redress their grievances.
I also understand the First Amendment's
pretty darn important and it's been a year
and I want to know when Americans will get those
First Amendment liberties back.
-You just said people cannot assemble in their own homes.
They can.
That's a CDC recommendation for vaccination.
-Not last fall, they couldn't.
-Right now, we're at an unacceptably high level.
On a daily basis, it's unacceptably high,
regardless of who you are.
What you're going to see,
as more and more people get vaccinated
and we get over three million people a day,
you're going to see the level of infection come down and down
and, gradually, there will be more flexibility
for doing the things that you're talking about.
-Where does it get to? When it comes down,
what number do we get our liberties back?
Tell me the number. Tell me the number.
-When 90% of the members of Congress get vaccinated.
-But you're not a doctor, Mr Clyburn.
He is.
What is the number? -I can't give you.
-Thank you for recognizing me, Mr Clyburn.
Thank you.
-The chair now recognizes for five minutes.
-I'd like my question answered!
-Reclaiming my time. Reclaiming my time.
-Regular order! Regular order!
-Just a moment. -Mr Chairman, Mr Chairman,
I don't want you to answer my question.
The American people want Dr Fauci to answer the question.
What does it have to be? -But your time expired, sir.
-You need to respect the chair and shut your mouth.
-So I'll go back to the question I asked the first round.
Can you give us a specific measurement
that will have to be attained,
some outcome, some result, that we have to reach,
so that Americans know
they're going to get their liberties back
and be able to move on with their lives?
-You're asking for a number. If I have a number,
it would have to be my best estimate,
and that would be that the number of infections per day
are well below 10,000 per day.
At that point, and up to that point,
there would be a gradual pulling back
of some of the restrictions you're talking about,
particularly when people are vaccinated more and more.
Because there's a combination of, if you're vaccinated,
you're protecting yourself, for sure;
and the more people that get vaccinated in the community,
the lower the level of infection will be.
-I understand. Well, give us an idea.
I mean, look, you've given us thoughts
on all kinds of subjects.
You've opined on all kinds of issues.
Give us your best guess, then!
-I just did. -No, you didn't.
You didn't give us a time.
When do you think this is going to?
Are we going to be here two years from now, wearing masks
and Jim Jordan asking Dr Fauci the same question?
-Let me. You're ranting again.
Let me just. -No, I'm not ranting.
-Yes, you are. -We'd like an answer!
Or your best guess!
Since you've got an answer for everything else.
-Well, when we get the people in this country vaccinating,
the overwhelming majority of the people in the country,
and we project that that will very likely be sometime
in the beginning to mid of the summer.
Because, as the president has said,
when we get to the end of May, there'll be enough vaccinations
to vaccinate everybody in the country.
The reason I can't give you a precise number:
because I'm not 100%
sure how many people will want to be vaccinated.
That's what I'm saying.