Dr. Scott Atlas, One of Donald Trump’s coronavirus advisors who sparked controversy over his comments against mask-wearing has resigned.
According to CNN, Atlas turned in his resignation letter to President Donald Trump on Monday.
As a special government employee, Atlas had a 130-day window in which he could serve and that window was coming to an end this week.
“I am writing to resign from my position as Special Advisor to the president of the United States,” Atlas said in a letter to Trump dated December 1, that he posted on Twitter.
He thanked Mr Trump for the honour and wished “all the best” to President-elect Joe Biden’s incoming administration.
“I worked hard with a singular focus – to save lives and help Americans through this pandemic,” Mr Atlas said, adding that he “always relied on the latest science and evidence, without any political consideration or influence”.
Mr Atlas attracted controversy during much of his time working for the outgoing president, and his resignation comes with COVID-19 cases surging nationwide.
Atlas, a neuroradiologist with no expertise in infectious diseases or epidemiology, was appointed in August.
He has been sharply criticised by public health experts, including Dr Anthony Fauci, the leading infectious diseases expert in the US, for providing Trump with misleading or incorrect information on the virus pandemic.
Last month, he said lockdowns had been “an epic failure” in stopping the spread of the virus. In October, Twitter removed a post in which he downplayed the importance of masks.
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