Former chief medical advisor to the president, Dr. Anthony Fauci, testified that the 6-foot social distancing guideline pushed by public health officials during the COVID-19 pandemic lacked any sound basis in science.
Fauci, who previously helmed the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), played a pivotal role in advising both former President Donald Trump and current President Joe Biden on the United States’ approach to managing the COVID-19 crisis, wielding substantial sway over the country’s infectious disease strategy. In recent times, Fauci has faced mounting scrutiny from Republicans, who have criticized his management of the pandemic and accused him of providing misleading information to the public about COVID-19’s risks and other related matters, the Daily Wire noted.
Governors and mayors used the six-foot rule, so to speak, to order businesses and schools closed. Thousands of business owners had to close permanently due to the orders, and scores of mental health experts said prolonged school closures had profound negative developmental effects on millions of school-aged children.
Fauci appeared on Capitol Hill in January to testify behind closed doors to members of the select subcommittee on the COVID-19 pandemic. The Committee on Oversight and Accountability, which oversees the subcommittee’s work, released transcripts of Fauci’s testimony on Friday. Fauci was back before a House committee for open-door testimony on Monday.
During the questioning by the Republican counsel, the focus was on the six-foot social distancing standard. Fauci was asked about the origin of the standard, which was promoted by federal, state, and local officials to slow the spread of COVID-19. The former federal health official suggested that the standard was arbitrary and lacked a solid basis in data.
“You know, I don’t recall. It sort of just appeared,” Fauci said in response to the guideline’s origins. “I don’t recall, like, a discussion of whether it should be 5 or 6 or whatever.”
He also said he had not seen any studies that substantiated the six-foot rule.
“I was not aware of studies that in fact, that would be a very difficult study to do,” Fauci said.
Also, during his testimony, the GOP counsel asked Fauci if he had seen any evidence supporting the masking of children, while noting that such policies were being implemented across the U.S. and encouraged by health officials.
“You know, I might have, Mitch, but I don’t recall specifically that I did. I might have,” Fauci responded.
Early in the pandemic, Fauci – whose entire 50-plus-year career was as an epidemiologist – told “60 Minutes” in March 2020 that there was “no reason to be walking around with a mask.”
“When you’re in the middle of an outbreak, wearing a mask might make people feel a little bit better and it might even block a droplet, but it’s not providing the perfect protection that people think that it is. And, often, there are unintended consequences — people keep fiddling with the mask and they keep touching their face,” he said at the time.
Happy anniversary to one of the worst takes ever.
One year ago today, Dr. Fauci went on 60 Minutes and said you didn’t need to wear a mask.
“Right now in the United States, people should not be walking around with masks. … There’s no reason to be walking around with a mask.” pic.twitter.com/dTfjoxWFjf
— Steve Guest (@SteveGuest) March 8, 2021
