Isolation rule changes are the latest case of the CDC's problems with messaging

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Isolation¹ rule changes are the latest case of the CDC's problems with messaging

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The new CDC guidelines for COVID-19 isolation and quarantine have garnered³ a lot of criticism. And this is just one example of the agency's on going communication problems.

A MARTINEZ, HOST:

The new CDC guidelines for COVID isolation and quarantine have garnered a lot of criticism. Yesterday, they were panned by the American Medical Association as confusing and counterproductive. They've also been fodder⁴ for social media wags, who started a CDC has announced meme and also for comedians⁵. Here's Desi Lydic from "The Daily Show."

(SOUNDBITE OF TV SHOW, "THE DAILY SHOW")

DESI LYDIC: If you test negative but you're an Aries or any other fire sign, test again. Your immune system is a free spirit, so the tests have trouble detecting COVID.

MARTINEZ: All right. So clearly, the message got muddled⁶. And that's just one example of the agency's communication problems. NPR's Selena Simmons-Duffin is here to explain. Selena, so obviously a lot of jokes and criticism on this latest guidance. How did things get so off track?

SELENA SIMMONS-DUFFIN, BYLINE⁷: Well, first of all, this came out via press release. It was only about 500 words. And it was unclear about how long to stay home and when to test, how to test, if you need to test. There was no technical briefing, no studies to support the change with evidence. That didn't come out until a week later. And there was none of the usual heads up that this press release was coming to important partners, like state and local health associations. Dr. Tom Frieden directed the agency during the Obama administration.

TOM FRIEDEN: There's a right way to do public health messaging. It means getting clear, simple, technically⁸ sound and practical recommendations, and then holding a media briefing to explain the reasoning behind them. For whatever reason, that's not how CDC recommendations are being rolled out.

SIMMONS-DUFFIN: He says the result is that there's been a lot of misunderstanding about the guidance and criticism of the agency, and that some of the criticism points to a pattern with CDC's communication.

MARTINEZ: You said pattern. Tell us more about that.

SIMMONS-DUFFIN: Well, you know, there have been some memorable⁹ missteps, like take off your mask if you're vaccinated¹⁰ last spring, which then had to be walked back soon after. But also, critics say CDC is just not doing enough communicating about its guidance and policies to be able to explain when people are confused or have questions.

MARTINEZ: Now, CDC Director Rochelle Walensky has done media interviews. And she often presents at White House COVID-19 response briefings. Why wouldn't that be enough?

SIMMONS-DUFFIN: Well, first of all, these are White House-led briefings. There hasn't been a CDC-led media briefing for two years. It's just not the same thing as subject matter experts, career scientists, sharing with the press and the public what they know. Dr. Walensky also is a political appointee who came from a big hospital system. Dr. Anthony Fauci, who is often also at these briefings, is famously a great communicator. But he is an immunologist, not a public health policy expert.

MARTINEZ: OK. So how should, then, the CDC be getting that message out there then?

SIMMONS-DUFFIN: Well, in the not-too-distant past - back in 2009...

MARTINEZ: (Laughter).

SIMMONS-DUFFIN: ...Career scientists at CDC were briefing the public daily during the H1N1 pandemic. Glen Nowak ran CDC communications at the time. He's now a professor at the University of Georgia.

GLEN NOWAK: We did a press conference every single day for eight weeks, including weekends. We did press conferences as long as we had something that was new, something that was different, there was a need to do it.

SIMMONS-DUFFIN: CDC scientists would field detailed¹¹ questions from health reporters about the data or the vaccine¹² supply or the guidance. And Dr. Frieden, who directed the agency then, says he actually thinks some of the current criticism of CDC is unfair, that the virus is changing in a way that justifies¹³ the changing guidance, but that the agency needs to get back to being more transparent¹⁴ and more communicative.

FRIEDEN: The fact is there are dedicated¹⁵ scientists at CDC who are the worlds' experts in a lot of these issues. And they need to be speaking directly to the public along with Dr. Walensky.

MARTINEZ: Selena, what does the agency say?

SIMMONS-DUFFIN: Well, I asked CDC's press office if there might be CDC-led briefings in the future. I did not hear back by air time. And this isn't just about optics. People need to understand public health guidance to follow it. And unclear communication can be used to fuel disinformation that can undermine trust in CDC and public health. So the stakes are high.

MARTINEZ: Yeah. That's NPR's Selena Simmons-Duffin. Thanks a lot.

SIMMONS-DUFFIN: Thank you.

1 isolation   

n.隔离，孤立，分解，分离

参考例句：

• The millionaire lived in complete isolation from the outside world.这位富翁过着与世隔绝的生活。
• He retired and lived in relative isolation.他退休后，生活比较孤寂。

2 transcript   

n.抄本，誊本，副本，肄业证书

参考例句：

• A transcript of the tapes was presented as evidence in court.一份录音带的文字本作为证据被呈交法庭。
• They wouldn't let me have a transcript of the interview.他们拒绝给我一份采访的文字整理稿。

3 garnered   

v.收集并（通常）贮藏（某物），取得，获得( garner的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Mr. Smith gradually garnered a national reputation as a financial expert. 史密斯先生逐渐赢得全国金融专家的声誉。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He has garnered extensive support for his proposals. 他的提议得到了广泛的支持。 来自辞典例句

4 fodder   

n.草料；炮灰

参考例句：

• Grass mowed and cured for use as fodder.割下来晒干用作饲料的草。
• Guaranteed salt intake, no matter which normal fodder.不管是那一种正常的草料，保证盐的摄取。

5 comedians   

n.喜剧演员，丑角( comedian的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The voice was rich, lordly, Harvardish, like all the boring radio comedians'imitations. 声音浑厚、威严，俨然是哈佛出身的气派，就跟无线电里所有的滑稽演员叫人已经听腻的模仿完全一样。 来自辞典例句
• He distracted them by joking and imitating movie and radio comedians. 他用开玩笑的方法或者模仿电影及广播中的滑稽演员来对付他们。 来自辞典例句

6 muddled   

adj.混乱的；糊涂的；头脑昏昏然的v.弄乱，弄糟( muddle的过去式)；使糊涂；对付，混日子

参考例句：

• He gets muddled when the teacher starts shouting. 老师一喊叫他就心烦意乱。
• I got muddled up and took the wrong turning. 我稀里糊涂地拐错了弯。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 byline   

n.署名；v.署名

参考例句：

• His byline was absent as well.他的署名也不见了。
• We wish to thank the author of this article which carries no byline.我们要感谢这篇文章的那位没有署名的作者。

8 technically   

adv.专门地，技术上地

参考例句：

• Technically it is the most advanced equipment ever.从技术上说，这是最先进的设备。
• The tomato is technically a fruit,although it is eaten as a vegetable.严格地说，西红柿是一种水果，尽管它是当作蔬菜吃的。

9 memorable   

adj.值得回忆的，难忘的，特别的，显著的

参考例句：

• This was indeed the most memorable day of my life.这的确是我一生中最值得怀念的日子。
• The veteran soldier has fought many memorable battles.这个老兵参加过许多难忘的战斗。

10 vaccinated   

[医]已接种的，种痘的，接种过疫菌的

参考例句：

• I was vaccinated against tetanus. 我接种了破伤风疫苗。
• Were you vaccinated against smallpox as a child? 你小时候打过天花疫苗吗？

11 detailed   

adj.详细的，详尽的，极注意细节的，完全的

参考例句：

• He had made a detailed study of the terrain.他对地形作了缜密的研究。
• A detailed list of our publications is available on request.我们的出版物有一份详细的目录备索。

12 vaccine   

n.牛痘苗，疫苗；adj.牛痘的，疫苗的

参考例句：

• The polio vaccine has saved millions of lives.脊髓灰质炎疫苗挽救了数以百万计的生命。
• She takes a vaccine against influenza every fall.她每年秋季接种流感疫苗。

13 justifies   

证明…有理( justify的第三人称单数 )； 为…辩护； 对…作出解释； 为…辩解（或辩护）

参考例句：

• Their frequency of use both justifies and requires the memorization. 频繁的使用需要记忆，也促进了记忆。 来自About Face 3交互设计精髓
• In my judgement the present end justifies the means. 照我的意见，只要目的正当，手段是可以不计较的。

14 transparent   

adj.明显的，无疑的；透明的

参考例句：

• The water is so transparent that we can see the fishes swimming.水清澈透明，可以看到鱼儿游来游去。
• The window glass is transparent.窗玻璃是透明的。

15 dedicated   

adj.一心一意的；献身的；热诚的

参考例句：

• He dedicated his life to the cause of education.他献身于教育事业。
• His whole energies are dedicated to improve the design.他的全部精力都放在改进这项设计上了。