As the nation reels from the devastating Covid-19 pandemic, the CDC starting on an unprecedented restructuring of its organization as trust has eroded between it and the American public.
At the height of the pandemic, there were mixed signals from the CDC over mask-wearing and social distancing. Week after week, Covid-19 guidelines were changing. With social distancing going from 13 feet apart to six and now three feet, the policies often seemed arbitrary.
Attacks from then President Donald Trump further undermined confidence in the agency. The uncompromising president butted heads with the head of the White House Coronavirus Task Force, Dr. Anthony Fauci, repeatedly.
During one press conference, Fauci was seen laughing as Trump offered misinformation about the virus.
Trump has maintained his tumultuous relationship with Fauci, continually bashing him and the CDC over inconsistencies.
In a public conference last month, CDC director Dr. Rochelle Walensky outlined an ambitious plan to regain the public’s trust. She admitted that there were missteps during the pandemic by the organization.
The new initiative will focus on a new culture of transparency and better planning when releasing information.
“My goal is a new, public health action-oriented culture at CDC that emphasizes accountability, collaboration, communication, and timeliness,” Walensky stated. “I look forward to working with the incredible people at CDC and our partners to realize the agency’s fullest potential to benefit the health and well-being of all Americans.”
A redesign of the CDC’s website will simplify its appearance, and health information will also be available through a newsletter aimed at the general public.
