The director of US-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) admitted Wednesday the organization's performance "did not reliably meet expectations." .Dr. Rochelle Walensky told agency staff the CDC will "reset" and focus on restructuring the agency's communications and update its website to make navigation easier when searching for public health guidance or scientific reports and data. ."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," said Walensky in a statement obtained by the Washington Post.."My goal is a new, public health action-oriented culture at CDC that emphasizes accountability, collaboration, communication, and timeliness.".An executive council will also be created to assist Walensky with setting strategy and priorities for the agency. .Walensky said the changes are a CDC initiative and it did not receive any direction from the White House to do so. .Walensky and the CDC have seen heavy criticism over its response to the COVID-19 pandemic, along with its response to other health threats, including monkeypox. .Critics say the CDC did not respond quickly enough to control the spread of the virus as it entered the country early on during the pandemic. It has also been criticized for being slow to recommend mask wearing and for not ramping up testing for new variants.
The director of US-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) admitted Wednesday the organization's performance "did not reliably meet expectations." .Dr. Rochelle Walensky told agency staff the CDC will "reset" and focus on restructuring the agency's communications and update its website to make navigation easier when searching for public health guidance or scientific reports and data. ."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," said Walensky in a statement obtained by the Washington Post.."My goal is a new, public health action-oriented culture at CDC that emphasizes accountability, collaboration, communication, and timeliness.".An executive council will also be created to assist Walensky with setting strategy and priorities for the agency. .Walensky said the changes are a CDC initiative and it did not receive any direction from the White House to do so. .Walensky and the CDC have seen heavy criticism over its response to the COVID-19 pandemic, along with its response to other health threats, including monkeypox. .Critics say the CDC did not respond quickly enough to control the spread of the virus as it entered the country early on during the pandemic. It has also been criticized for being slow to recommend mask wearing and for not ramping up testing for new variants.