They are rare, but they do happen. As proceedings kicked off this morning, Republican Senator Richard Burr gave Democrat Senator Tim Kaine an orange, a blanket, and a Dr Pepper in case he gets trapped in the snow again as he was last week.

After thanking the four witnesses for their testimony, Senator Murray gavels the session to a close.

Senator Richard Burr says he respects all four of the experts testifying today and says he is sorry for what Dr Fauci and his family are going through.

He adds that they stand by willing to help with whatever they need to combat the pandemic, but will require full accountability.

Watch out for those hot mics… Dr Fauci is heard calling Senator Marshall “a moron” after their last exchange.

“You are getting amazingly wrong information,” says Dr Fauci when challenged by Senator Marshall over his financial disclosure forms, which although public record, Mr Marshall’s office is unable to locate.

The pair have sparred twice during today’s hearing.

Senator Murray interjected that Dr Fauci’s financial disclosure forms are publicly available and he can provide them should Mr Marshall like to see them.

Regarding Rand Paul’s attacks against him, Dr Fauci told the committee: “What happens when he gets out and accuses me of things that are completely untrue is that all of a sudden that kindles the crazies out there and I have threats upon my life, harassment of my family and my children with obscene phone calls, because people are lying about me.”

Senator Burr asked about the differing experience of South Africa and Israel with Omicron — the former saw a quick, sharp peak, the latter has seen a more prolonged outbreak.

Dr Fauci said there are many variants to consider, and similarly, the US will not see a uniform peak experience as it will vary from state to state depending on the percentage of vaccinated people and what the prior impact of other variants has been.

This was probably true in many households last month.

Dr Janet Woodcock: ”I think it’s hard to process what’s actually happening right now, which is: most people are going to get COVID. And what we need to do is make sure the hospitals can still function, transportation, other essential services are not disrupted while this happens.”

As the US fights to slow the spread of Covid-19’s Omicron variant, reports have surfaced that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is considering recommending that those who can should wear a higher standard of mask when in public – specifically the KN95 and N95 masks that have been in high demand for the last two years.