Not the ultimate authority

Dr. Anthony Fauci, one of the prolific voices on President Trump's COVID-19 task force, testified before the Senate Health Committee on Tuesday.

One of the key conversations took place with Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY).

Sen. Rand Paul: "I don't think you're the end all. I don't think you're the one person that gets to make a decision."

Dr. Anthony Fauci: "I have never made myself out to be the end all and only voice in this. I'm a scientist, a physician and a public health official." pic.twitter.com/Nqlg3zOqn3

— CSPAN (@cspan) May 12, 2020

This is basically in response to Fauci's assertion that re-opening the U.S. economy and lifting stay-at-home orders could very well lead to further carnage. As such, he is always going to err on the side on prolonged shelter-in-place. So when asked about the unintended consequences of a longer shutdown, some of which could also result in fatalities, Fauci concedes such analysis is not in his wheelhouse.

Sen Cassidy asks Fauci about the harm of having kids home from school in terms of ... missed meals, not monitoring for child abuse, brains not developing, parents unable to work and provide basics for children ... he says in short he has no idea - that’s not his job.

— Melissa Francis (@MelissaAFrancis) May 12, 2020

And therein lies the salient issue. With the facts laid out by Dr. Fauci, it is up to local governments to determine what is the best methodology for balancing the public health concerns with fending off economic ruin. And since it's elected officials who are accountable for their decisions, they're the ones who will ultimately pay a price if it is deemed they re-opened too early. But, again, they have access to data which Fauci obviously does not. Choose wisely.

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