Opinion
GOP senator warns new CDC guidance against extracurricular activities will harm students
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FIRST ON FOX: Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., despatched a letter to CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky Wednesday suggesting the company’s new steerage encouraging Okay-12 colleges to close down some in-person extracurricular actions will hurt the well being of scholars.
In steerage up to date Jan. 6, the CDC really helpful that Okay-12 colleges in areas with a “excessive” transmission charge of COVID-19 cancel “high-risk” extracurricular actions, that are outlined as “these by which elevated exhalation happens, equivalent to actions that contain singing, shouting, band or train, particularly when performed indoors.”
Mentioning how the CDC classifies greater than 99% of U.S. counties as experiencing excessive transmission charges, Blackburn mentioned the CDC was successfully suggesting that just about each county ought to be shutting down extracurricular actions.
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Describing the protocols as “misguided,” Blackburn accused the Biden administration of “utilizing the guise of COVID-19 to remove freedoms, seemingly with none regard for the well-being of our nation’s youngsters,” suggesting that banning actions like sports activities and band will additional hurt the psychological well being of younger individuals.
She cited the CDC’s personal report, which discovered skyrocketing charges of suicide makes an attempt amongst adolescents because the pandemic. A overview of 36 different research confirmed will increase in anxiousness, despair and different well being points.
Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., listens throughout the affirmation listening to for Supreme Courtroom nominee Amy Coney Barrett earlier than the Senate Judiciary Committee, Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2020, on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. (Stefani Reynolds/Pool through AP)
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“It’s also tough for People to belief that CDC steerage relies on scientific proof, particularly given the Biden administration’s propensity for – and the CDC’s prior historical past of — bowing to lecturers’ unions,” Blackburn added.
“Previous to the February 2021 CDC announcement on school-reopening pointers, emails point out that some CDC language at school reopening pointers was truly written by the American Federation of Lecturers (AFT).”
Rochelle Walensky, director of the U.S. Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention (CDC), speaks throughout a Senate Well being, Schooling, Labor and Pensions committee listening to in Washington, D.C., Jan. 11, 2022.
(Shawn Thew/EPA/Bloomberg through Getty Photos)
Blackburn concluded by requesting that Walensky clarify what proof the CDC used to conclude that placing a halt to youngsters enjoying sports activities will sluggish the unfold of COVID-19 and cite any communication the company has had with outdoors teams which may have influenced its steerage.
“Our kids’s well being and well-being are on the road, and it’s gone time for this administration to cease making an attempt to micromanage the selections People make about their very own well being,” Blackburn mentioned.
The CDC didn’t instantly reply to Fox Information’ request for remark.
