Sen. Rand Paul defends criticism of Dr. Fauci's mask policy while at Galt House event

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Sen. Rand Paul is not backing down from his argument that people with immunity to COVID-19 should not have to wear masks in public.

Paul appeared at the Galt House and was in Louisville one day after clashing with infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci during a Senate hearing over the science of masks.

"You've been vaccinated, and you parade around in two masks for show," Paul said.

"Well, let me just state, for the record, that masks are not theater," Fauci responded. "Masks are protective."

In Louisville to honor activist Christopher 2X and his anti-violence organization, Game Changers, Paul told WDRB News he believes Fauci is "well-intended."

"But he is -- I think he's overkill," said Paul. "He needs to dial it back a little bit."

Paul said the science does not indicate that people with immunity to the virus should have to wear masks.

"There is no study in the entire world that says that people who have gotten it naturally, or people who have been vaccinated, are spreading the disease," said Paul.

Paul caught the virus early in the pandemic and has not worn a mask in public since.

"If Dr. Fauci comes up with evidence that shows me that some new variant is here and thousands of people are dying and in the hospital, and the hospitals are overrun with people who have already had it or been vaccinated, then we should listen to him," Paul said.

Paul rejected the argument that -- even absent hard evidence -- people like him should wear masks as a precaution.

"I would think that, if we're going to restrict people's freedoms, that we should have some evidence that there's a problem," said Paul. "There's no evidence. I mean zero evidence."

Paul acknowledged there have been isolated cases of people who have had COVID-19 being re-infected.

"I think there are exceptions to every rule. What I'm looking for is something that is a public health concern."

Paul does recommend getting the vaccine.

"I would encourage people that the vaccine works."

Paul himself has not been vaccinated. His office released a statement explaining why:

"Dr. Paul is following the science on the vaccines and masks for those who have developed immunity. Like tens of millions of other Americans who have recovered from COVID-19, Dr. Paul has developed an immune defense to the virus, which is the same goal and result of the vaccines. As such, Dr. Paul believes there are many millions of other Americans who should receive the vaccine ahead of him. That is especially true as clinical trials have shown the vaccines provide no appreciable additional immunity for those who have already recovered from the disease."

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