Coronavirus: Former CDC chief says lack of expert involvement ‘like fighting with one hand tied behind your back’

Tom Frieden criticised White House for response to pandemic

Tom Frieden has criticised the US handling of the pandemic (Fox News)

The former director of the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has said that the US is fighting the coronavirus pandemic without properly utilising experts.

Tom Frieden, who is now the president of Resolve to Save Lives, a non-profit that helps governments to prevent pandemics, told the editorial board of USA Today that the CDC needs to be front and centre, helping with policy and communicating with the public.

Mr Frieden criticised their lack of involvement, adding that “fighting an epidemic without CDC involved at the decision table and at the podium is like fighting with one hand tied behind your back”.

He said that there also needs to be more clarity from the government about who is actually leading the fight against the pandemic.

“We’ve heard that FEMA’s in charge. We’ve heard that the vice president’s in charge. We’ve heard that (U.S. Ambassador-at-Large) Dr. (Deborah) Birx is the coordinator,” he said.

“We’ve heard that (Health and Human Services secretary Alex) Azar is in charge of the task force. Who’s on first here?”

Mr Frieden disagrees with an increase in testing, saying that those who only have mild symptoms should stay at home.

“If you’re positive, it’s not going to make any difference. You’re going to be told to stay home unless you’re having trouble breathing. Then you need to go to the hospital,” he said.

USA Today report that in previous outbreaks the CDC was a bigger part of the communication strategy, but that when the White House has its own briefings, it makes it difficult for the agency to contribute.

“Because if the White House is having a press conference, they can’t have one,” Mr Frieden said.

According to a tracking project hosted by Johns Hopkins University, upwards of 55,568 people have tested positive for coronavirus in the US. The death toll has reached at least 809.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recommended a two-week ban on gatherings of more than 50 people as part of the battle to contain the spread of the contagion.