CDC’s Walensky pressed on school distancing guidance: ‘You need to do it now’

The director of the CDC Dr. Rochelle Walensky was pressed again on the agency’s potential plans to update school distancing guidance during a Senate committee hearing on Thursday as Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, cited increases in mental health emergencies among the nation’s youth.

Collins’ questioning followed Walensky’s testimony Wednesday that the agency was "actively" looking at emerging studies on rates of coronavirus transmission at 3 feet versus 6 feet. When pressed on when the public could see the agency issue a change to current guidance she had said the CDC is "looking to do it soon," but stopped short of giving a specific timeline. Collins’ question received a similar answer, with Walensky emphasizing that the data is emerging and that studies are ongoing. "I understand the mental health issues, the education challenge, this is urgent don’t get me wrong," Walensky said, adding that when the initial 6 feet of distancing was recommended it was based on studies that were conducted during high rates of disease prevalence.