'The idea that you can get up here and talk about what you know and what the science is ... it is something of a liberating feeling,' Fauci told reporters.

Looking ahead, Fauci said he’s “cautiously optimistic that we will have a vaccine by the end of this year and as we go into 2021. I don’t think it’s dreaming ... I believe it’s a reality (and) will be shown to be reality.”