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Coronavirus Is 10 Times Deadlier Than Seasonal Flu, Fauci Says

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  • Fauci says U.S. must act quickly to stem spread of coronavirus
  • World health body declares outbreak to be a pandemic
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Director Anthony Fauci speaks at the House Oversight and Reform Committee.

The novel coronavirus spreading across the globe is “10 times more lethal than the seasonal flu,” the government’s top infectious disease official told a House hearing, where he warned the U.S. must take serious mitigation efforts now.

“Bottom line: It’s going to get worse,” National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Director Anthony Fauci told the House Oversight and Reform Committee. “If we don’t do very serious mitigation now, what’s going to happen is we’re going to be weeks behind” in containing the spread.