Dr. Fauci estimates infection rate has to get down to 10,000 cases a day before restrictions can be safely lifted

Fauci clashes with GOP lawmaker over when COVID restrictions should be eased The nation's top infectious disease expert, Dr. Anthony Fauci clashed with GOP Rep. Jim Jordan over when COVID restrictions should be eased. ABC News ABC News

Dr. Anthony Fauci, pressed by a Republican lawmaker Thursday over when Americans will "get their liberties back," gave his clearest explanation yet as to when COVID-19 restrictions could be safely lifted, saying the U.S. must get its infection rate under 10,000 new cases a day.

When asked by Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, at a congressional hearing to give an answer about when Americans can return to their pre-pandemic lives, Fauci, the nation's top infectious disease expert, explained that the nation has a lot of work to do before it reaches that point.

"What is low enough? Give me a number," Jordan demanded, citing examples of churches having to restrict attendance.

"That would be that the number of infections per day are well below 10,000 per day," Fauci said. "At that point, and up to that point, there would be a gradual pulling back of some of the restrictions you're talking about." ...

The exchange with Fauci, whom Republicans are increasingly using as a political target, grew so tense that an exasperated Fauci accused Jordan of "ranting." ...

The U.S. weekly average of daily COVID-19 cases remains around 67,000, up 6% over the last seven days, according to the Johns Hopkins University Coronavirus Resource Center. The country also recorded five days with more than 70,000 daily COVID-19 cases, according to data gathered by Johns Hopkins....