Fauci backtracks on year-long pandemic school closures, admits they were 'mistake'

Dr. Anthony Fauci backtracked his support Tuesday for a COVID-19 mitigation method which closed down schools throughout the country, calling the strategy a “mistake.”

Fauci helped lead the nation's initial response to COVID-19 as part of the Trump administration. In an interview with CBS Mornings this week, the former National Institute of Allergy and Infections Diseases (NIAID) director explained school closures were necessary at the very beginning of the pandemic.

"I think what was not a mistake was the actual closure,” he said. “When we had to shut down, that 15-day to flatten the curve, we were in a tsunami of cases.”

He went on to say the length of time these restrictions stayed in place proved costly.