Dr. Deborah Birx is sharing that guidelines issued for reopening by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) need a few more finishing touches before putting them into practice.
Contrary to reports, Birx said the White House has not put a stop to the CDC’s production of guidelines for reopening.
According to Birx, they are in the process of editing them.
“Those are still being worked on,” Birx told CNN on Thursday evening. “No one has stopped those guidelines, we’re still in editing. I just got my edits back from the CDC late yesterday. I’m working on them as soon as I get off this discussion.”
Watch her comments below:
The report titled, “Guidance for Implementing the Opening Up America Again Framework,” was initially designed to provide faith-based leaders, business owners, educators, and other local officials with the tools to reopen on a local level.
It also contained additional details pertaining to social distancing practices and recommendations for different industries.
According to a CDC official, scientists within the agency were told the guidelines “would never see the light of day.”
Birx expressed her appreciation for the work the CDC does as well as their willingness to work with the White House on these issues.
“I really want to appreciate how proactive they have been in working with the White House and really ensuring that the best science is put forward, both in our White House guidelines but also in the guidelines that they post on the CDC website,” Birx said.
CNN’s Anderson Cooper pressed Birx asking her if these guidelines are really based on science and if scientists are the ones making the edits.
“Well, I’d like to believe that I’m a scientist and I’ve been working with the CDC on the edits,” Birx said.
She explained it was about simplifying the guidelines to ensure the American people and health officials understood them.
