Birx Responds To Pence, Says Virus Will Not Be Behind Us By Memorial Day

“Social distancing will be with us through the summer to really ensure that we protect one another,” Birx said Sunday on NBC’s  “Meet The Press.”

President Trump and his allies have, at times, struck a more aggressive tone than health officials on the White House coronavirus task force — such as Birx and Dr. Anthony Fauci — about how and when the U.S. will be able to safely reopen. 

Pence said Thursday on Fox News radio that “trends” showed the U.S. the outbreak would be “behind us” by Memorial Day weekend; a day earlier, he told the Wall Street Journal the epidemic could be “largely in the past” by early June.

Birx reiterated that the reopening should be done gradually and on a regional basis, adding that any easing of social distancing restrictions should be like “slowly turning up the dimmer,” not flipping on a light switch.

Governors in several states have begun to reopen, even as polls show Americans are in overwhelming favor of social distancing restrictions; Georgia Governor Brian Kemp sparked controversy when he allowed businesses such as gyms, barber shops and tattoo parlors to resume business on Friday.

Trump pivoted from his aggressive push to ease social distancing restrictions and rebuked the governor on Wednesday, saying, “I want him to do what he thinks is right, but I disagree with him on what he is doing—I think it’s too soon.”