New CDC director Rochelle Walensky extends the eviction moratorium due to COVID-19 until at least March 31

On her first day as the new director of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), Rochelle Walensky, MD is already making big moves.

Walensky announced on Twitter Wednesday night that he will extend the eviction moratorium until the end of March, due to the economic impact of COVID-19.

This impact, she said in a statement, “has also triggered a housing accessibility crisis that disproportionately affects some communities.”

“As a measure to protect public health, I will extend the current order to temporarily suspend residential evictions until at least March 31, 2021,” she said.

That same night, the CDC released a projection that up to 508,000 coronavirus-related deaths could be reported by February 13.

“Despite extensive mitigation efforts, COVID-19 continues to spread in America at a worrying rate,” said Walensky.

“We must act to eliminate cases and keep people in their homes and out of congregated environments – such as shelters – where COVID-19 can become even more established,” she continued.