In the chaotic early days of the pandemic, Dr Fauci became America’s most trusted expert on Covid-19 and the world often looked to him for a suitable response to a fatal bug that spread globally without logic.However, Dr Fauci and his expertise did not go unopposed, with clashes with former US president Donald Trump over the virus response, which drew anger from the right.Dr Fauci now lives with security protection following death threats against his family.Dr Fauci said in a statement he would be leaving both his position as director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), and that of chief medical advisor to Mr Biden – though he added: “I am not retiring.” The 81-year-old, who previously disclosed plans to leave by the end of Mr Biden’s current term, announced he would go in December to “pursue the next chapter of my career.” Mr Biden extended his “deepest thanks” to Fauci in a White House statement. “Because of Dr. Fauci’s many contributions to public health, lives here in the United States and around the world have been saved,” the president said, adding that the country is “is stronger, more resilient, and healthier because of him.” Dr Fauci has helmed the United States’ response to infectious disease outbreaks since the 1980s, from HIV/AIDS to Covid-19, and has served under seven presidents.When Covid-19 first spread globally from China in 2020, he became a trusted source of reliable information, reassuring the public with his calm and professorial demeanour during frequent media appearances.But his honest takes on America’s early failures to get to grips with the virus brought Fauci into conflict with former president Donald Trump, and turned the physician-scientist into a hated figure for some on the right.Dr Fauci now lives with security protection after his family received death threats and harassment.Mr Biden said that after winning the 2020 election, as he was trying to build a team to lead the Covid-19 response, Dr Fauci was “one of my first calls.” “In that role, I’ve been able to call him at any hour of the day for his advice as we’ve tackled this once-in-a-generation pandemic,” the US president stated.Dr Fauci has not shared what he will do after stepping down, but said he wants to inspire and mentor the next generation, citing the “energy and passion” he still has for the field despite his decades of service.“I am proud to have been part of this important work,” he said.
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