CDC draft outlines phased reopening of child care, religious institutions, food industry amid coronavirus

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has drafted proposed guidelines for a phased reopening of the economy as some states begin to lift stay-at-home orders and resume operations amid the coronavirus pandemic, Fox News has learned.

Fox News obtained a copy of the 17-page draft proposal on Monday, which contains guidelines for child care centers, schools, day camps, faith-based institutions, bars and restaurants and public transportation, and an outline of specific directions for each sector.

According to the Washington Post, which first obtained the draft guidelines, coronavirus task force members Dr. Deborah Birx, Dr. Anthony Fauci, and assistant to the president and director of the Domestic Policy Council Joe Grogan have reviewed the proposed guidelines.

The CDC draft proposal begins with child care programs, stating that “the reopening” of those programs “is crucial to helping parents and guardians return to work.”

The guidelines note that “in communities that are deemed significant mitigation areas by State and local authorities, child care programs should be closed,” but that in other areas, programs can “choose to remain open to serve children of essential workers, such as healthcare workers.”

The reopening of child care centers includes three phases—phase one would restrict care to just children of essential workers; phase two would expand to all children with enhanced social distancing measures; and phase three would open the programs for all children with social distancing measures, while promoting “healthy hygiene habits, and intensify cleaning, disinfection and ventilation.”