After its initial holiday guidance was released, the CDC issued a retraction and included novel ideas such as placing a fan in the window.
On Friday, the agency published a list of tips for in-home holiday gatherings that were expected to lessen the likelihood of COVID-19 spread.
The list included guidance such as keeping gatherings virtual and placing a fan in the window for better ventilation.
“If celebrating indoors, bring in fresh air by opening windows and doors, if possible,” the post read. “You can use a window fan in one of the open windows to blow air out of the window. This will pull fresh air in through the other open windows.”
On Monday, however, the CDC issued a retraction and took the page down. The agency claimed that the advice was from an article written a year ago and posted by accident, reported The Hill.
A spokesperson from the agency said the guidance posted on Friday “doesn’t reflect the CDC’s guidance ahead of this upcoming holiday season.” The agency is expected to share its updated guidance soon.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s leading infectious disease expert who has been tracking and advising since the start of the pandemic last year, weighed in whether it was safe enough to resume the typical holiday gatherings this year. On Sunday, he said it was too soon to tell.
This response received backlash from primarily Republican lawmakers.
However, on Monday, Dr. Fauci said that they had misinterpreted his comments that were an answer to the CBS anchor’s question about Christmas.
“That was misinterpreted as my saying we can’t spend Christmas with our families, which was absolutely not the case. I will be spending Christmas with my family. I encourage people, particularly the vaccinated people who are protected, to have a good, normal Christmas with your family,” he said.
He maintained, however, that the nature and future of the pandemic are uncertain.
The CDC has promised that new guidelines for the 2021 holiday season are forthcoming.
