Newly released testimony from former NIH Director Dr. Francis Collins confirms that Anthony Fauci and Deborah Birx did not base the pandemic-era six-foot social distancing rule on science, and instead were making things up as they went along.
On Thursday, Rep. Brad Wenstrup (R-OH), chairman of the Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic, released a transcript from Collins’ January closed-door interview, in which he’s asked about a range of issues – including the lab-leak theory and the six-foot social distancing rule.
“We asked Dr. Fauci where the six feet came from, and he said it kind of just appeared, is the quote,” the majority counsel on the committee told Dr. Collins, per the transcript. “Do you recall science or evidence that supported the six-foot distance?”
“I do not,” Collins replied.
Counsel then asked, “Is that I do not recall or do not see any evidence supporting six feet?”
To which Collins replied, “I did not see evidence, but I’m not sure I would have been shown evidence at that point.”
“Since then, it has been an awfully large topic. Have you seen any evidence since then supporting six feet?” Counsel replied.
“No,” said Collins.
BREAKING.🚨@COVIDSelect releases testimony of Dr. Francis Collins, former NIH director who ran America's Covid response.
— Kyle Becker (@kylenabecker) May 16, 2024
Highlights:
• 6-feet social distancing made up
• Wuhan lab leak not 'conspiracy theory'
• Fauci had agenda to discredit lab leak
• Fauci lied
• NIH… pic.twitter.com/ycFSZKrTQr
As the sources note further, the remarks by Dr. Collins offer further indication that officials issuing guidelines at the height of the pandemic were, at least to some extent, making decisions that were not explicitly supported by scientific data.
Various officials involved in crafting the U.S. pandemic response, including Dr. Fauci, have said that they were making good-faith decisions based on the available data at the time and that once new information emerged, they adjusted their recommendations accordingly.
Major factor in the delay of reopening schools due to 6 ft rule
— APBIOonly (@APBIOonly) May 17, 2024
American Federation of Teachers had it written in the contract
“Our union had it in their contract. It’s literally why we didn’t reopen the whole year”
h/t @LeslieBienen
No one is criticizing Denmark anymore https://t.co/PmiOc9P0J7 pic.twitter.com/CUkYdv7Mf8
As the COVID-19 outbreak spread in 2020, the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued guidance describing social distancing to include staying away from congregant settings, avoiding mass gatherings, and maintaining a distance of at least six feet from others when possible.
The CDC’s latest guidance on respiratory virus infection prevention (updated on April 4, 2024) includes a section on physical distancing. It indicates that putting physical distance between oneself and others can help lower the risk of spreading a respiratory virus.
“There is no single number that defines a ’safe’ distance, since spread of viruses can depend on many factors,” the guidance states, which comports with studies such as one from 2021 that concluded that the one-size-fits-all six-foot physical distancing rule is invalid.
However, the CDC’s latest guidance for healthcare settings, updated on March 18, 2024, makes several references to six feet. For instance, it recommends that in dental facilities with open floor plans, one strategy to prevent the spread of COVID-19 is to ensure “at lest 6 feet of space between patient chairs.” It also defines “close contact” between individuals as “being within 6 feet for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period with someone with SARS-CoV-2 infection.”
