Coronavirus update: Top US infectious disease expert Dr Anthony Fauci praises Australia's COVID-19 response

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-08-24/coronavirus-covid-19-update-uk-schools-pakistan-deaths/12587506

'Top US infectious disease expert Dr Anthony Fauci says Australia is among the countries held up as an example of those that have managed COVID-19 the right way.

'When we talk about who did it right Australia always comes up'

'Top US infectious disease expert Dr Anthony Fauci says Australia has done a comparatively good job containing the spread of COVID-19.

While outbreaks in Victoria and NSW have contributed to more than 500 coronavirus deaths nationally, Dr Fauci, who leads the US National Coronavirus Task Force, said Australia was among the countries held up as managing the virus the right way.

So far, the United States has recorded about 5.7 million cases of COVID-19 and more than 176,000 deaths.

"When we talk about who did it right, Australia always comes up as one of the countries that has done it right," Dr Fauci told Channel Nine.

"[Australia] got hit badly, you suffered the way many of us have, but when you look comparatively speaking you've done a really good job."

He said COVID-19 represented a "perfect storm" in terms of a pandemic, but he felt positive about ongoing vaccine trials.

"There are three candidates out of six that we're supporting [in the US] that are in advanced phase 3 trials," Dr Fauci said.

"Which means the question being asked is not only whether it is safe but whether it actually works [and] is it effective?'