Dr. Anthony Fauci speaks about the Omicron coronavirus variant during a press briefing at the White House in Washington, December 1, 2021.
Kevin Lamarque | Reuters
The nation’s top infectious disease expert, Dr. Anthony Fauci, plans to step down from his roles running the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and advising the White House as its chief medical advisor at the end of the year, he announced Monday.
Fauci, 81, has become a household fixture during the Covid-19 pandemic, battling back misinformation, sometimes from the highest levels of government. His steadfast commitment to science, challenging former President Donald Trump on everything from the use of  hydroxychloroquine to mask mandates, made him a quasi-celebrity in the process.
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