Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Anthony Fauci attends a White House briefing on the novel coronavirus on April 1, 2020. (Photo by MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images)

(CNSNews.com) - "Make Dr. Anthony Fauci People Magazine’s Sexiest Man Alive," says a petition posted on the Change.org website.

The 79-year-old Fauci is among the experts leading the nation's evaluation of and response to the Covid-19 outbreak, frequently appearing at the White House coronavirus news conferences. He was a strong and early advocate of social distancing.

The petition reads:

Dr. Anthony Fauci is America’s top expert on infectious diseases. His tireless work to educate and support Americans has affected all of us. His comforting and intelligent demeanor has helped to lessen our national anxiety. He speaks truth to power, a strength few have at this time. His kind face and manner of speaking bring calm during the storm. For sapiophiles and many others, he is the definitive Sexiest Man Alive in 2020.

(Sapiophiles are attracted to intelligent people.)

As of early Friday morning, almost 4,000 people had signed the petition.

Amid the bipartisan adulation for Dr. Fauci, press reports said he's also received threats, prompting the Health and Human Services inspector-general's office to provide him with a security detail.

On Thursday, Savannah Guthrie of NBC's "Today" show asked Fauci if he feels safe:

"I've chosen this life. I mean, I know what it is," Fauci said. "There are things about it that are sometimes disturbing. But you just focus on the job you have to do and just put all that stuff aside and try as best as possible not to pay attention to it."

According to The Washington Post, the concerns about Fauci "include threats as well as unwelcome communications from fervent admirers."