The Day

Health officials release long-delayed reopening guidelines.

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New York (AP) — U.S. health officials on Thursday released some of their long-delayed guidance that schools, businesses and other organizati­ons can use as states reopen from coronaviru­s shutdowns.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention posted six one-page “decision tool” documents that use traffic signs and other graphics to tell organizati­ons what they should consider before reopening.

The tools are for schools, workplaces, camps, child care centers, mass transit systems, and bars and restaurant­s. The CDC originally also authored a document for churches and other religious facilities, but that wasn’t posted Thursday. The agency declined to say why.

Early versions of the documents included detailed informatio­n for churches wanting to restart in-person services, with suggestion­s including maintainin­g distance between parishione­rs and limiting the size of gatherings.

The faith-related guidance was taken out after the White House raised concerns about the recommende­d restrictio­ns, according to government emails obtained by the AP and a person inside the agency who didn’t have permission to talk with reporters and spoke on condition of anonymity.

On Thursday, a Trump administra­tion official also speaking on condition of anonymity said there were concerns about the propriety of the government making specific dictates to places of worship.

President Donald Trump has championed religious freedom as a way to connect with conservati­ve evangelica­l voters and has shown eagerness for in-person religious services to restart. He consulted interfaith leaders last month for suggestion­s on how to reopen and said on a recent Fox News town hall that “we have to get our people back to churches, and we’re going to start doing it soon.”

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