Dr. Deborah Birx is shedding light on possible social guideline changes reportedly being discussed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Birx — global health expert and member of the White House coronavirus task force — appeared on “CBS This Morning” where she revealed details about “a very important piece” that could be introduced as early as Wednesday during the White House coronavirus press briefing.
According to Birx, the new guidelines take the degree of exposure into consideration. It focuses on factors that could increase the chances of a person being exposed to the coronavirus.
“It looks at degree of exposure and really making it clear that exposure occurs within 6 feet for more than 15 minutes, so really understanding where you shouldn’t be within 6 feet of people right now,” Birx said.
See Birx’s remarks below:
Birx went on to discuss how the guideline would target those who would be returning to work after a period of quarantine.
“But if you’re in a work situation where you have to be, there will be a series of recommendations that if you had had significant exposure of what specifically to do, and if you’ve had less exposure what to do,” she continued.
With the new degree of exposure taken into consideration, the CDC is also weighing the possibility of allowing a person exposed to the virus to return to work, according to ABC News.
According to the news outlet, an undrafted proposal — which aims to implement ways for employees in critical fields to return to work — would require the person to “test their temperature twice a day and wear a face mask,” as ABC News reports.
The new proposal comes as the Trump administration is working to prepare for “stabilization” in the number of infections ahead of their attempt to restart the economy.
As of Wednesday afternoon, coronavirus cases in the United States topped 400,000 with a death toll of more than 12,900.