Dr. Fauci: Release Passengers From Cruise Ships

Passengers aboard a pair of cruise ships wishing to dock in Florida should "absolutely" be allowed off the boats for treatment, Dr. Anthony Fauci said Thursday.

"First of all, you have to take care of the people who are ill," Fauci, the head of the Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases at the National Institutes of Health and member of the White House coronavirus task force, told "CBS This Morning." "You just have an obligation to do that, and as quickly as possible, you've got to get the people who are not sick, who are not infected, off the ship."

Holland America's Zaandam and Rotterdam ships are set to arrive at the Florida coast later this week. Gov. Ron DeSantis has said he does not want them to release passengers into the state during the coronavirus crisis, but President Donald Trump has said he wants the ships to dock for humanitarian reasons.

"Remember, there are both Americans and people from other countries, so we've got to get the Americans off, and we've got to get the people from the other countries safely back to their countries," Fauci said. "This is absolutely necessary to do before you get further spread of the infection."

Fauci also commented on NBC's "Today" about the need to increase his security detail because of both threats and interest from admirers.

"You just focus on the job you have to do, and just put all that other stuff aside and try as best as possible not to pay attention to it, and just forge ahead," he said. "We have a really, really, very, very difficult situation ahead of us. All of that other stuff is secondary."

Fauci's voice also is hoarse, but he said that's because of all the interviews and briefings he's been giving.

"I'm physically fine," he said. "All I do all day long is brief people, governors, senators, White House, interviews. I just need to keep my mouth shut for a little while and I'll get better."