So now with the vaccines in full swing, COVID cases having fallen 77% in the last six weeks and some even scientists even arguing that’s due to herd immunity, that must mean that there’s light at the end of the tunnel coming soon, right?

Not so fast, says Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Dr. Anthony Fauci, if you thought we were going to be able to dispense with our masks any time soon.

While Fauci said we could reach a “significant degree of normality” by the end of this year, in Fauci’s typical way, he couldn’t leave that alone. “A lot of things can happen to modify that,” he said citing variants of the virus.

He was asked by CNN’s Dana Bash, “What does normal mean? Do you think Americans will still be wearing masks for example in 2022?”

.@DanaBashCNN: "What does normal mean? Do you think Americans will still be wearing masks for example in 2022?"

Dr. Anthony Fauci: "You know, I think it is possible that's the case. And, again, it really depends what you mean by normality." pic.twitter.com/JQm9Cbo16O

— The Recount (@therecount) February 21, 2021

Dr. Anthony Fauci: “You know, I think it is possible that’s the case. And, again, it really depends what you mean by normality.” So he’s saying this is possible even months after when it’s projected that most will have access to/have gotten the vaccine (which point he keeps adjusting but is now saying is May/June of this year) and despite the fact that cases and deaths are already dropping drastically. The CDC reported that over 63 million of the Wuhan coronavirus vaccine doses have been administered in the United States as of Sunday, according to Fox News.

“It really depends on what you mean by normality.” It depends on what the meaning of is is. Are we now debating even what qualifies as “normal?” Let me help the doctor. Normal is the government not paternally ordering things closed and mandating the public wear masks.

Those are not a very encouraging remarks when people are looking to the drop in cases and vaccinations as positive indications, it doesn’t help encourage people to get vaccinations when you suggest that they will still have to wear masks if they do. It also doesn’t help that he’s flip flopped on so many points including masks.

The possibility of masks until 2022 didn’t go over well with many Americans.

Not a personal spokesperson. A spokesperson for the NIAID or whatever. Fauci is not good at being the media face of this. https://t.co/xulbIdNqtu

— Noam Blum (@neontaster) February 21, 2021

Have a great week everyone! Please don’t worry about the lockdown. His Eminence Fauci has confirmed that we probably only have to be under lockdown until 2067 (plus or minus 7 years). It’s science and he’s a physician so shut up rube.

— Gad Saad (@GadSaad) February 22, 2021

At this point, I just assume everything Fauci says is designed to prolong his “fifteen minutes of world fame” because once the virus is in hand, he goes back to being a highly paid paper pusher. https://t.co/mq11YYr9dR

— Emily Zanotti (@emzanotti) February 22, 2021

I’m old enough to remember when Dr. Fauci praised Governor Cuomo for being the model on how to fight COVID …

👉 🤡 x 1,000

— Catturd ™ (@catturd2) February 22, 2021

HT: Twitchy