Covid advisor: Anthony Fauci to step down in December

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US President Joe Biden's Covid advisor Anthony Fauci, America's top infectious disease expert who became the face of the country's fight against the pandemic, has announced that he will step down in December.

Dr Fauci said in a statement he would be leaving both his position as director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, and that of chief medical advisor to Mr Biden - though he added: "I am not retiring."

The 81-year-old, who previously disclosed plans to leave by the end of Mr Biden's current term, announced he would go in December to "pursue the next chapter of my career."

Mr Biden extended his "deepest thanks" to Dr Fauci in a White House statement.

The president stated that Dr. Fauci's numerous contributions to public health have "saved lives here in the United States and around the world," and that as a result, the nation "is stronger, more resilient, and healthier."

Since the 1980s, Dr. Fauci has led the American government's response to infectious disease outbreaks, from HIV/AIDS to Covid-19, and he has worked for seven presidents.

He established himself as a dependable source of information when Covid first went worldwide in 2020 from China, comforting the public with his composed and professorial attitude during repeated media appearances.

After receiving harassment and threats against his family, Dr. Fauci now has security protection at his home.

Dr. Fauci was "one of my first calls," according to Mr. Biden, when he was trying to assemble a team to head the Covid-19 response after winning the 2020 election.

In that capacity, the president said, "I've been able to call him at any hour of the day for his assistance as we've dealt with this once-in-a-generation pandemic."