Dr. Anthony Fauci, the U.S.'s leading infectious diseases expert, said Sunday that schools need more resources to combat coronavirus in the classroom, but risks can be mitigated by following the new guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
"I think that the schools really do need more resources and that's the reason why the national relief act that we're talking about getting passed, we need that," Fauci said during an appearance on ABC News' This Week with host George Stephanopoulos. "The schools need more resources."
President Joe Biden's $1.9 trillion stimulus plan has been addressed by multiple House committees, and Democrats plan to pass the final bill early next month.
However, Fauci shared his optimism about reopening safely when schools follow the CDC guidelines.
"I think it can be done. I mean, obviously, it's not a perfect situation, but it's really important to get the children back to school in the safest way possible," Fauci said. "Safe for the children, but also safe for the teachers and the other educators."
When asked his opinion on the CDC guidelines not requiring that teachers receive the coronavirus vaccine before returning to the classroom, Fauci said "there are a lot of things that can be done... that would make the risk less."
Fauci added giving preference for teachers to be vaccinated is a part of the plan for the future, but "it's not a sine qua non."
"It's not something that you can't open a school unless all the teachers are vaccinated," Fauci said. "That would be optimal if you could do that. But practically speaking, when you balance the benefit of getting the children back to school with the fact that the risks are being mitigated if you follow the recommendations in these new guidelines from the CDC, hopefully, I think that will alleviate concerns on both sides."
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