The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has released its reopening America guidance documents to help schools, workplaces, and other spaces safely reopen after widespread shutdowns across the country to slow the spread of the CCP virus.
“These six decision trees are to assist leaders of these entities in thinking through health considerations and making operational decisions during the COVID-19 pandemic,” a CDC spokesman said in a statement, Reuters reported. The outlet also reported that the CDC said it may issue more guidance as needed.
The CDC guidance documents encourage businesses and organizations to ask that employees wear masks to work in most cases.
The latest CDC guidance documents also encourage businesses and organizations to coordinate with state and local health officials in making decisions about how to safely reopen.
For example, in deciding whether a restaurant or bar should open, the CDC decision trees asks if reopening will be consistent with state and local orders, and whether the business is ready to protect employees at higher risk for severe illness. If the answer is no, restaurants and bars are advised not to open.
At the time, the guidance had not been vetted through an interagency review process, Redfield said, adding that the process is “an iterative effort to ensure effective, clear guidance is presented to the American people.”
“I had not seen a version of the guidance incorporating interagency and task force input and therefore was not yet comfortable releasing a final work product,” he also said at the time.
“Governors will be empowered to tailor an approach that needs the diverse circumstances of their own states,” he said.
“If they need to remain closed, we will allow them to do that and if they believe it is time to reopen, we will provide them the freedom and guidance to accomplish that task and very quickly, depending on what they want to do.
“We are also encouraging states to work together to harmonize their regional efforts,” the president added.
