Robert Redfield, director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), attends a hearing of U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies on the plan to research, manufacture and distribute a coronavirus vaccine on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., the United States, on July 2, 2020. (Graeme Jennings/Pool via Xinhua)
The CDC guidelines include recommendations for social distancing in classrooms and wearing facial coverings.
WASHINGTON, July 10 (Xinhua) -- Director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Robert Redfield said Thursday the agency is not planning to rewrite guidelines for educators on reopening schools.
In an interview with the American Broadcasting Company (ABC), Redfield said that the CDC would issue "additional reference documents," which are "not a revision of the guidelines, … just to provide additional information to help the schools be able to use the guidance that we put forward."
U.S. President Donald Trump slammed the guidelines as "very tough" and "expensive" on Wednesday, and his administration has been pushing for the reopening of schools and universities in the fall.
U.S. Vice President Mike Pence said Trump did not want the guidelines to be "barriers" to reopening.
The CDC guidelines include recommendations for social distancing in classrooms and wearing facial coverings.
"Clearly we see some individuals are concerned about the six-foot distancing. Others are concerned about face masks. Other individuals are concerned about rotating schedules," Redfield said.
"These decisions about schools are local decisions. We're prepared to work with any school and school district to see how they can take these guidances, this portfolio of strategies and do it in a way they're comfortable that they can reopen their schools," he said. ■