Dr. Anthony Fauci Anthony FauciDemocratic chairman says White House blocked FDA commissioner from testifying Overnight Health Care: CDC reverses controversial testing guidance | Billions more could be needed for vaccine distribution | Study examines danger of in-flight COVID-19 transmission Trump claims enough COVID-19 vaccines will be ready for every American by April MORE said Friday that Americans will most likely have to continue social distancing and stay inside their homes for several more weeks.

“If you look at the trajectory of the curves of outbreaks and other areas, at least going to be several weeks,” Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, told Savannah Guthrie on NBC's “Today."

“I cannot see that all of a sudden, next week or two weeks from now, it's going to be over," he added. "I don't think there's a chance of that. I think it's going to be several weeks.”

ADVERTISEMENT

During the interview, Fauci was asked if President Trump Donald John TrumpUS reimposes UN sanctions on Iran amid increasing tensions Jeff Flake: Republicans 'should hold the same position' on SCOTUS vacancy as 2016 Trump supporters chant 'Fill that seat' at North Carolina rally MORE should use the Defense Production Act to ramp up production of critical supplies that hospitals around the country are running dangerously low on, such as surgical masks.

"I think we should do everything we possibly can do. I mean, in all sectors, because obviously, as I've said so many times, when you think you're maybe overreacting, you probably are not acting as forcefully as you should," said Fauci, who is a member of the White House's coronavirus task force.

The administration this week advised Americans to not gather in groups of more than 10 people and to work from home for the next 15 days.

Earlier in the week, Fauci said it could take several weeks to know if the guidelines put in place successfully flatten the curve.