VIDEO-Dr. Fauci Says 'A Real Degree of Normality' May Come by November as New York COVID-19 ICU Admissions Dip for First Time

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and a member of the White House coronavirus task force, said the nation could return to a "degree of normality" by fall.

The physician and immunologist made the comments on MSNBC's The 11th Hour on Friday evening.

Asked by host Brian Williams if by November voters will be able to participate in the upcoming presidential election, Fauci said that while this was not his area of expertise, "I would hope that by November we would have things under such control that we could have a real degree of normality."

Fauci made the forecast as the country continues to lead the world in reported COVID-19 cases, with more than half a million, according to Johns Hopkins University.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic started in the central Chinese city of Wuhan late last year, more than 18,000 people have died in the U.S. of the disease caused by the new coronavirus. In the past 24 hours, the U.S. became the first country to report more than 2,000 COVID-19 deaths in a day.

Worldwide, more than 1.6 million people have been diagnosed with COVID-19, almost 103,000 people have died, and more than 377,040 are known to have recovered. As shown in the Statista map below, the coronavirus has reached every continent except Antarctica.

In hard-hit New York, more people have been diagnosed with COVID-19 than any country outside the U.S. Attempting to temper the tragic figures with a glimmer of hope, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo told his daily press briefing on Friday that following a record high on Wednesday, 22 fewer people died on Thursday at 777.

"The leveling off of the number of lives lost is [a] somewhat hopeful sign," he said.

Earlier in the week, the governor said it appeared measures taken to tackle COVID-19 were "flattening the curve so far," but warned letting up would risk seeing figures worsen again.

On Friday, Cuomo said there was a "dramatic decline" in the three-day average of hospitalizations, although the change was not down relative to Thursday. ICU admissions were down "for the first time since we started this intense journey," he said.

That day, President Donald Trump told a White House coronavirus press briefing that deciding how and when to re-open the economy would be one of the hardest he's made.

"I don't know that I've had a bigger decision. But I'm going to surround myself with the greatest minds. Not only the greatest minds, but the greatest minds in numerous different businesses, including the business of politics and reason," Trump said.

"And we're going to make a decision, and hopefully it's going to be the right decision."

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Advice on Using Face Coverings to Slow Spread of COVID-19

• CDC recommends wearing a cloth face covering in public where social distancing measures are difficult to maintain.
• A simple cloth face covering can help slow the spread of the virus by those infected and by those who do not exhibit symptoms.
• Cloth face coverings can be fashioned from household items. Guides are offered by the CDC. ( https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/diy-cloth-face-coverings.html )
• Cloth face coverings should be washed regularly. A washing machine will suffice.
• Practice safe removal of face coverings by not touching eyes, nose, and mouth, and wash hands immediately after removing the covering.

World Health Organization advice for avoiding spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19)

Hygiene advice

• Clean hands frequently with soap and water, or alcohol-based hand rub.
• Wash hands after coughing or sneezing; when caring for the sick; before, during and after food preparation; before eating; after using the toilet; when hands are visibly dirty; and after handling animals or waste.
• Maintain at least 1 meter (3 feet) distance from anyone who is coughing or sneezing.
• Avoid touching your hands, nose and mouth. Do not spit in public.
• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or bent elbow when coughing or sneezing. Discard the tissue immediately and clean your hands.

Medical advice

• Avoid close contact with others if you have any symptoms.
• Stay at home if you feel unwell, even with mild symptoms such as headache and runny nose, to avoid potential spread of the disease to medical facilities and other people.
• If you develop serious symptoms (fever, cough, difficulty breathing) seek medical care early and contact local health authorities in advance.
• Note any recent contact with others and travel details to provide to authorities who can trace and prevent spread of the disease.
• Stay up to date on COVID-19 developments issued by health authorities and follow their guidance.

Mask and glove usage

• Healthy individuals only need to wear a mask if taking care of a sick person.
• Wear a mask if you are coughing or sneezing.
• Masks are effective when used in combination with frequent hand cleaning.
• Do not touch the mask while wearing it. Clean hands if you touch the mask.
• Learn how to properly put on, remove and dispose of masks. Clean hands after disposing of the mask.
• Do not reuse single-use masks.
• Regularly washing bare hands is more effective against catching COVID-19 than wearing rubber gloves.
• The COVID-19 virus can still be picked up on rubber gloves and transmitted by touching your face.