Guidelines drafted by CDC were rejected by Trump administration citing religious freedom, economic concerns

The Trump administration rejected guidelines proposed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on how to take public health precautions to safely reopen the economy, according to The New York Times.

The guidelines drafted were meant to instruct how schools, restaurants, churches and other establishments can safely reopen.

They include using disposable dishes and utensils at restaurants, closing every other row of seats in buses and trains while restricting transit routes to areas experiencing high levels of coronavirus infection.

They also recommend separating children at school and camps into groups that shouldn’t mix throughout the day, among other suggestions.

White House officials reportedly rejected the guidance due to concerns that it could hamper the administration’s efforts to swiftly reopen the economy.

One Department of Health and Human Services official rejected any guidance in churches, claiming the measures would infringe on religious liberties, according to the newspaper.