White House shelved CDC guidance on easing of virus restrictions
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The White House shelved a step-by-step guide prepared by U.S. health officials to help states safely reopen mass transit, restaurants, daycare centers and other public places closed by the coronavirus pandemic, an administration official said on Thursday.
The 17-page document prepared by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) was put off to avoid giving overly prescriptive guidance, said the official, a member of President Donald Trumps White House task force, confirming a news report by the Associated Press that the guidance was shelved.
The CDC did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. More than 74,000 Americans have died from COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the virus, out of 1.2 million-plus known to be infected, according to a Reuters tally.
Many states have begun easing restrictions on social and business life, including Florida, Georgia and Texas, but have yet to meet White House recommendations to hold off until the number of new COVID-19 cases has declined for two weeks.
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