Fauci, an infectious diseases expert, expressed disappointment later in the week that the rules were allowed to be relaxed after the mandate and its extension were overruled.

Speaking to the Nashville Tennessean, Fauci said the reason the face mask mandate extension was introduced was because the CDC “wanted to see what the pattern of infection is during this bit of a surge we’re seeing [in parts of the country].”

He added: “I think it’s unfortunate that a court order came in and, I believe, superseded the authority of the CDC.”