Washington, May 12 (RHC)-- The total confirmed number of coronavirus cases around the world is nearing 4.2 million, with over 286,000 known deaths.  In the U.S., the number of confirmed infections is over 1.3 million, with over 80,000 reported deaths. 

Dr. Anthony Fauci is the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) since 1984 and one of the lead members of the White House Coronavirus Task Force addressing the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States. 

Dr. Fauci testified before a U.S. Senate panel on Tuesday and told lawmakers that opening up the country prematurely will lead to “needless suffering and death.”  Fauci is appearing remotely after White House staffers recently tested positive for COVID-19.  Chair of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee Senator Lamar Alexander will also be remote, after one of his staffers contracted the virus.