Dr. Fauci has the perfect reaction to Rep. Jim Jordan's wild questioning
We should all know this by now: Being in a crowd, especially indoors without a mask, is dangerous during the coronavirus pandemic.
Still, Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan — the relentlessly pro-Trump Ohio Republican infamous for his alleged role in a massive sexual abuse scandal at Ohio State — decided to press Dr. Anthony Fauci on this idea on Friday. The nation's top health official appeared before a House panel on the coronavirus response.
It went so far that Fauci eventually literally waved off the congressman.
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In his questioning, Jordan wondered why church services were discouraged even as Black Lives Matter protests — which are outdoors, typically involve mass mask-wearing, and have not been shown to significantly spread COVID — continued across the country. Jordan seemed intent on getting Fauci to discourage protests or make a political statement of some sort.
"Well, I'm not going to opine on limiting anything. I'm telling you what the danger is," Fauci said to Jordan. "You can make your own conclusion about that. You should stay away from crowds no matter where the crowds are."
But Jordan wouldn't let up. Speaking with a public health official who's been doing this sort of work for decades, Jordan insisted over and over and over, trying to corner Fauci into coming out for or against the recent protests. Fauci, time and again, simply told Jordan that crowds — particularly without masks — could help increase the spread of the virus.
Right as Jordan's time expired, the congressman stuck to his same point. Fauci had a perfect reaction.
It sure seems like Fauci had enough. And who could blame him for waving off Jordan?
There is still so much we don't know about this virus. But we do know being indoors, sans masks, talking loudly, singing, or breathing heavily for extended periods of time is really dangerous. That's why health experts say bars, churches, and gyms are hotspots, not because the experts are out to get conservatives. On the contrary, they're trying to save lives.
Topics Black Lives Matter Health Politics COVID-19
Tim Marcin is an Associate Editor on the culture team at Mashable, where he mostly digs into the weird parts of the internet. You'll also see some coverage of memes, tech, sports, trends, and the occasional hot take. You can find him on Bluesky (sometimes), Instagram (infrequently), or eating Buffalo wings (as often as possible).
