'We will get through this together': Newly-released emails reveal Dr Fauci's friendly messages to CHINESE expert at start of COVID outbreak - but he didn't ask any questions about how pandemic started
Newly uncovered emails reveal Dr. Anthony Fauci's cozy relationship with China's top infectious disease expert during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Digital exchanges between Fauci and Dr. George Gao - the director of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention - were discovered among a trove of Fauci's emails obtained by The Washington Post.
The newspaper was granted access to 866 pages of Fauci's messages through a Freedom Of Information request.
On Tuesday, they published several exchanges that took place between Fauci and Gao in March and April of last year, as the coronavirus pandemic hit America with full force.
Fauci took a warm and friendly tone with Gao, and did not ask any questions about the origins of the virus.
Last week, the top doctor conceded that there should be further investigation into the theory that the virus leaked from a laboratory in Wuhan known to perform experiments on bat coronaviruses. He did so despite spending much of the last year playing down that suggestion.
Newly uncovered emails reveal Dr. Anthony Fauci's cozy relationship with China's top infectious disease expert during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic
Fauci told Americans in March 2020 that face masks were not an effective tool to prevent the spread of COVID-19. He reversed track the following month
In March, Gao told Science magazine that it was a 'big mistake' for United States experts (including Fauci) to tell their citizens that they did not need to wear face masks.
A subsequent email shows that Gao was anxious as to how Fauci would interpret the remark.
He messaged Fauci on March 28 saying: 'I saw the Science interview... That was journalist's wording. Hope you understand. Lets work together to get the virus out of the earth.'
Fauci warmly replied: 'I understand completely. No problem. We will get through this together.'
On April 3, Fauci formally reversed his stance on mask-wearing, telling Americans that they should cover their noses and mouths to stop the spread. The top doctor was slammed by numerous pundits and millions of Americans for giving mixed messages.
He later said he did so to try and prevent members of the public panic-buying masks when hospitals were struggling to obtain adequate supplies of PPE.
Less than a week later, Gao emailed Fauci again. expressing his support amid the onslaught of attacks.
'I saw some news (hope it is fake) that you are being attacked by some people. Hope you are well under such a irrational situation,' Gao wrote on April 8.
'Thank you for your kind note. All is well despite some crazy people in this world,' Fauci replied three days later.
The Washington Post was granted access to 866 pages of Fauci's emails through a Freedom Of Information request. The doctor is pictured in February 2020
Meanwhile, The Washington Post published several others e-mails Fauci sent and received in the early months of the pandemic.
A message sent on April 1 reveals Fauci spoke by phone with Bill Gates about the possibility of the government working together with The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation on a potential coronavirus vaccine.
Several other messages show that the doctor was in turn alarmed and amused by the fact he had become a household name overnight.
One colleague also sent a link to another article detailing that Fauci themed socks and donuts had been put up for sale.
'Truly surrealistic. Hopefully, this all stops soon,' Fauci replied. 'It is not at all pleasant, that is for sure.'
However, in one email the 80-year-old doctor bemused by the fact he had become an unlikely sex symbol.
On April 8, Fauci received a Google News alert for his name, which included a link to an article titled, 'Cuomo Crush and 'Fauci Fever' — Sexualization of These Men Is a Real Thing on the Internet.'
Fauci forwarded the link to an unidentified acquaintance and wrote: 'It will blow your mind. Our society is really totally nuts.'
Messages show that the doctor was in turn alarmed and amused by the fact he had become a household name overnight
Meanwhile, the newly-released emails reveal safety concerns for Fauci in the early months of the pandemic.
While many swooned over the infectious diseases expert, others were taking aim at him for his flip-flopping messages.
In April, the federal government hired full-time security for the top doctor after he became the subject of threats by publicly contradicting then-President Trump about the virus.
Freddie Barnes, a military veteran and chaplain with North Carolina’s Department of Public Safety, wrote to Fauci on April 26 warning the expert to watch his back using police terminology.
'Take care,' Barnes wrote. 'And cover your six'.
In April, the federal government hired full-time security for the top doctor after he became the subject of threats after he publicly contradicted President Trump about the virus
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