During two days of closed-door testimony in the House, Dr. Anthony Fauci admitted that there was no scientific basis for the 6-foot social distancing rule, the New York Post reported.
Fauci testified before the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic on January 9 and 10 in a closed-door hearing. During 14 hours of questioning, Fauci said the 6-foot recommendation by federal health officials was “likely not based on scientific data” and “sort of just appeared.”
Fauci also dismissed the notion that school closings during the pandemic lockdowns resulted in learning loss.
In a press release from subcommittee Chairman Brad Wenstrup (R-OH), a doctor, Fauci also acknowledged that the lab leak theory was not a conspiracy, despite insisting for years that COVID originated naturally.
Fauci also conceded that imposing vaccine mandates during the pandemic would likely lead to increased vaccine hesitancy in the future. He also admitted that he advised US colleges and universities to mandate vaccinations for students.
In his press release, Chairman Wenstrup said that Fauci’s interview “revealed systemic failures in our public health system” and exposed “serious procedural concerns” with the public health authority, with “dissenting opinions” either not considered or “suppressed completely.”
Wenstrup said that in the event of a future pandemic, the federal government’s response “must be guided by scientific facts and conclusive data.”
Throughout Fauci’s testimony, he repeatedly answered questions with “I do not recall.” In his statement, Chairman Wenstrup said while the subcommittee was frustrated by Fauci’s “inability to recollect” the information vital to the investigation, “others we have spoken to do recall the facts.”
Democrat members of the subcommittee accused the Republicans of misrepresenting Fauci’s testimony during the closed-door hearing and demanded the immediate release of the transcript.
Rep. Kathy Castor (D-FL) told reporters that once the full transcript of Fauci’s testimony was available, the American people would see that the Republicans “distorted” what Fauci said.
