Dr. Anthony Fauci on his life amid COVID-19: 'I do a lot of takeout'

Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), discusses how he protects himself from the virus. 'I do a lot of takeout.'

Video Transcript

DR. ANTHONY FAUCI: Well, we know that this virus overwhelmingly, predominantly is transmitted by the respiratory route, by either droplets that are large enough, essentially, to travel to get to someone's nose, eyes, mouth, or aerosol, a little bit. We don't know exactly what the extent of the aerosol is. We know it does play a role. Exactly how much is still being worked out.

We also know that the virus can live on inanimate objects. But if you look at the transmissibility, the epidemiology that we have a lot of experience now, that is very likely a very, very minor, minor aspect of transmissibility. We can't say it's 0. It certainly is real and is finite. But it's minus. So I think we should spend less time worrying about wiping down a grocery bag than we should about just washing our hands frequently.

So you ask me what I do when I come from the grocery store or when someone gives me a takeout bag-- which I do a lot now, because I don't go into restaurants and sit down. I want to keep them going financially, so I do a lot of takeout. So I do have a bag that I bring into my house. Instead of worrying about the bag, I'll open the bag and then I'll just wash my hands thoroughly, which is what you should do.

I think doing that, natural public health measure and not worrying about touching things, things that might or might not have anything to do with transmissibility. Just focus on washing your hands.