*The use of face masks has led to a sharp drop in the number of other common viruses this year, says Dr. Anthony Fauci, American top scientist and infectious disease expert

Isola Moses | 绿帽献妻

As the Coronavirus (COVID-19) 鈥榙raws to a close鈥�, combined with a comparatively steep decline in the spread of virus in especially the United States (US), Dr. Anthony Fauci, American top scientist and infectious diseases expert, says he believes nose masks could eventually be worn on a 鈥渟easonal basis鈥� after the pandemic winds down.

Dr. Fauci, while speaking on NBC鈥檚 鈥淢eet the Press鈥� Sunday, May 9, 2021, noted that the public has more or less got used to wearing masks, and that their increased use led to a steep decline in the spread of other viruses, like the flu.

The expert stated there is a possibility that people could decide to continue wearing masks in public to reduce their risk of catching seasonal illnesses that spread through the air.

He said: 鈥淲e鈥檝e had practically a nonexistent flu season this year merely because people were doing the kinds of public health things that were directed predominantly against covid-19.

“So it is conceivable that as we go on a year or two or more from now that during certain seasonal periods when you have respiratory borne viruses like the flu, people might actually elect to wear masks to diminish the likelihood that you鈥檒l spread these respiratory borne diseases.”

In regard to consumers鈥� wearing masks in the country in view of the progressive vaccination rate in the country, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently updated its guidance regarding masks to say that fully vaccinated people can go mask-free while exercising and taking part in small outdoor gatherings.

The regulatory agency still recommends that fully vaccinated people wear a mask in crowded areas, such as stadiums and concert venues, where unvaccinated people could be present.

According to Fauci while speaking with ABC鈥檚 鈥楾his Week鈥�, the next Mother鈥檚 Day will be much more normal if 鈥渁n overwhelming proportion鈥� of the population gets vaccinated.

鈥淚 hope that next Mother鈥檚 Day, we鈥檙e going to see a dramatic difference than what we鈥檙e seeing right now. I believe that we will be about as close to back to normal as we can,鈥� Fauci noted.

Recently, US President Joe Biden set a goal of getting at least a COVID-19 shot into the arms of 70 percent of the country鈥檚 adults by July 4 this year.

Subsequently, in move to help boost vaccination rates, the White House has urged states to make vaccines available on a walk-in basis and directed many pharmacies to do the same, agency report stated.

American health officials have said if 70 percent of the US is at least partially vaccinated, there would be a dramatic reduction in COVID-19 cases over the summer.

This could ultimately result in a feeling of being close to pre-pandemic normalcy, they said.