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By Douglas Ernst - The Washington Times

Dr. Anthony Fauci says Americans who stick with the nation’s “independent spirit” should think twice during the coronavirus and, instead, opt for a “do what you’re told” mentality.

The infectious disease expert made the comments Thursday while speaking with experts in the nation’s capital.

“I was talking with my U.K. colleagues who are saying the U.K. is similar to where we are now, because each of our countries have that independent spirit,” he said, CNBC reported Thursday. “I can understand that, but now is the time to do what you’re told.”

Mr. Fauci’s comments come as politicians across the nation wrestle with an uptick in COVID-19 cases.

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases director also lamented intersection of politics and science as it relates to the global pandemic.

“All of a sudden, science gets caught in a lot of this divisiveness,” he said.

He punctuated his remarks that saying the nation could “turn it around” by wearing masks, social distancing, and regularly washing hands, the network reported.

The U.S. has tallied over 10 million cases of the contagion since it first spread around the globe from China in early 2020.

Roughly 242,000 American deaths have been attributed to the virus.

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