A girl watches after returning to school while restrictions on coronavirus disease (COVID-19) are lifted in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on March 8, 2021.
Hannah Beier | Reuters
WASHINGTON – The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are working on updated guidelines for schools that could reduce their social distance recommendations from 6 feet to 3 feet, Principal Dr. Rochelle Walensky told lawmakers on Wednesday.
“As soon as our guidance was released, it became very clear that 6 feet was among the things that kept schools closed, and in that context, science evolves,” testified Walensky before the House Energy and Commerce investigations and supervision subcommittee.
“There was a study published at the end of last week that demonstrated in Massachusetts, where there is usually 100% mask use, that 3 feet was really safe,” she said, adding that the agency was reviewing several other unpublished studies on social activities shorter distances from the guidelines when reviewing their own recommendations.
When pressed on the timetable to revise the agency’s school guidance, Walensky, who said she herself was educating her three children at home during the pandemic, said the CDC was still “actively looking at these additional studies”.
“We are looking to update our orientation,” said Walensky, adding, “I am entirely with you, as we need to have our children back. [to school]. “
The new study, published in Clinical Infectious Diseases, compared the rates of Covid-19 infection in public schools in Massachusetts with different physical distance requirements. Research suggests that 3 feet can be as safe as 6 feet if everyone is masked.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, the country’s leading infectious disease officer and chief medical advisor to President Joe Biden, was asked about the study on Sunday.
“What the CDC wants to do is to accumulate data and when the data shows that there is a capacity to be 3 feet, they will act accordingly,” Fauci told CNN’s Jake Tapper. “I can guarantee that within a reasonable, very reasonable period of time, they will give guidance according to the data they have.”