The head of the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has admitted that her agency had failed to deal adequately with the corona pandemic in the United States.
In a statement to her staff on Wednesday, quoted by The New York Times and other media, Rochelle Walensky said the agency’s performance “did not reliably meet expectations."
"For 75 years, CDC and public health have been preparing for COVID-19, and in our big moment, our performance did not reliably meet expectations," Walensky acknowledged. "As a longtime admirer of this agency and a champion for public health, I want us all to do better," she added, announcing her intention to renew the agency.
The goal, she explained, is to place greater emphasis on public health and pandemic prevention. Concrete measures have not yet been announced.
Walensky had ordered an external review in April following criticism of the agency’s work during the pandemic. According to The New York Times, the review showed that the corona rules were “confusing and overwhelming”. There was also a lack of clarity about responsibilities and communication.
