Dr. Birx’s comments came on the first Sunday after Trump labeled the nation’s churches, temples and other places of worship “essential” and demanded that they reopen nationwide.
Places of worship “may not be safe for those with preexisting conditions” despite orders from President Donald Trump that they be allowed to reopen immediately, White House coronavirus coordinator Deborah Birx said Sunday.
“Although it may be safe for some to go to churches and social distance, it may not be safe for those with pre-existing conditions,” Birx told Chris Wallace on “Fox News Sunday. “That’s why in ‘phase one’ and ‘phase two,’ we’ve asked for those individuals with vulnerabilities to really ensure that they are protected and sheltering in place while we open up America.”
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Asked about the wisdom of such a move in the face of warnings from public health experts, Birx pointed to the CDC guidance that directed faith leaders how to “reopen safely.”
“Before the president made that announcement, he asked the CDC to get their guidance to churches up, so that churches could reopen safely, so that guidance is up there and available to all churches and congregants to understand how to worship together safely,” Birx said on ABC’s “This Week” Sunday. “Certainly worshiping outside, maintaining social distancing, and you know, honestly not having physical contact with each other and that’s — I know that’s difficult.”
“But the guidance was up before the churches were asked to reopen, and I think that’s really important.”
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Asked on “Fox News Sunday” about reports of Memorial Day weekend crowds, Birx replied that she is “very concerned when people go out and don’t maintain social distancing.”
“And out of respect for each other, as Americans that care for each other, we need to be wearing masks in public when we cannot social distance,” she said.
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Dr. Deborah Birx said places of worship "may not be safe for those with preexisting conditions," despite orders from the president that they be allowed to reopen immediatelyhttps://t.co/D1qFE0Xmd7
— POLITICO (@politico) May 24, 2020
This is always a false choice, meant to enrage people and short-circuit their civic impulses. Yes, we all have a constitutional right to free assembly. But not in a burning house or a sinking ship. Adults understand this. So does Scott. America's angry toddlers, not so much. https://t.co/M3N7i94qc6
— Tom Nichols (@RadioFreeTom) May 24, 2020
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