Dr. Anthony Fauci, the former Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, admitted in a closed-door congressional testimony that the widely implemented six-foot social distancing rule during the COVID-19 pandemic was not rooted in concrete scientific studies.
The full transcript of Fauci’s interview with the Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic, released last Friday, revealed significant admissions about the efficacy of many of the measures recommended by the government during the pandemic.
When asked about the six-foot distancing guideline, which was implemented in businesses and schools across the country, Fauci acknowledged his inability to specify its exact origin. “It just sort of appeared,” Fauci said. “I don’t recall, like, a discussion of whether it should be 5 or 6 or whatever.”
He further explained that a scientific study proving the exact effectiveness of six feet would be “very difficult” to create due to the numerous factors involved.
The transcript also revealed Fauci’s uncertainty regarding the impact of masking children, particularly in educational settings. Despite widespread implementation, he described the science behind masking children as still “up in the air.”
When asked if he had reviewed data supporting the measure, Fauci responded that he did not “recall specifically” doing so. This comes amid growing concern over learning losses and developmental delays linked to mask use among young children.
Most surprisingly, Fauci admitted that the theory suggesting COVID-19 originated from the Wuhan Institute of Virology is a “real possibility.” He stated, “I think people have made conspiracy aspects from it. It could be a lab leak.”
The revelation of these comments have caused many critics to point out the hypocrisy of Fauci’s actions. During the height of the pandemic, Fauci routinely told Americans to “trust the science” and follow all guidelines being recommended because they were scientifically endorsed. However, his testimony from January draws a sharp contrast to these claims.
The release of the transcript also comes before Fauci is set to testify before a House panel on the origins of COVID-19 on Monday.
