Fauci warns of 'serious' consequences if states reopen before meeting coronavirus 'checkpoints'

Fauci warns of 'serious' consequences if states reopen before meeting coronavirus 'checkpoints'

Dr. Anthony Fauci warned in testimony Tuesday before the Senate Health Committee that reopening the economy before certain "checkpoints" set up in the White House's coronavirus recovery plan are met could bring "serious" consequences.

"As I have said many times publicly, what we have worked out is a guideline framework for how to open America again,” Fauci said.

The hearing, which features Fauci, one of the most prominent faces of the White House coronavirus task force, as well as three other top administration health officials, began with Chairman Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., making clear that he believes stay-at-home orders cannot be a long-term plan. It is the biggest congressional hearing since the coronavirus crisis began. Testimony is expected to continue this afternoon.

A long list of religious leaders signed onto a letter sent Tuesday requesting that Congress' next coronavirus relief package include legal immunity for religious organizations reopening amid an onslaught of new regulations surrounding the pandemic.

There has been a “notable decrease” in pediatric vaccine orders across the U.S. since mid-March, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) wrote in a recent report that highlighted how the coronavirus pandemic has affected vaccination rates in children across the country. The CDC said that the drop might result in outbreaks for otherwise preventable viruses among children.

The National Park Service (NPS) is testing public access with limited reopenings across the country as the coronavirus pandemic continues. Select parks in South Dakota, Indiana, Nevada, Washington, Kentucky, California and Utah are once again welcoming visitors, albeit with restrictions and partial services.

President Trump on Tuesday gave his backing to Tesla CEO Elon Musk, calling on California to allow Musk to reopen his plant in the northern part of the state despite concerns over safety due to the coronavirus pandemic.

And Bill Gates says he warned then-President-elect Trump in December 2016 about the risks of a pandemic in the U.S., according to the Wall Street Journal. The Journal reported that Gates "explained the risks of a pandemic" to all the 2016 presidential candidates, urging them to make it a national priority

And there were several other developments:

At least three children in Connecticut are being treated for a mysterious inflammatory condition that is likely linked to the novel coronavirus.

New York State government -- and local governments nationwide -- cannot solve a public health crisis like coronavirus by creating a public safety crisis with the release of inmates, the president of the Correction Officers' Benevolent Association said Tuesday.

Tina Fey announced that more than $115 million was raised toward supporting New Yorkers impacted by the coroanvirus during a virtual telethon Monday.

As coronavirus spreads across the globe, a crucial question has emerged: After recovering from an infection, are people immune? Because the virus is so new, the answer isn't fully understood.

A large study of more than 1,400 COVID-19 patients has revealed the controversial coronavirus treatment hydroxychloroquine yielded no benefits for patients.