>> she's committed to making communication at the cdc better. it's been something that has been an issue ever since she took this job in january. it was an issue long before she got there but she did come into the job vowing to restore trust in the cdc. that's been really the big issue here. so, in part, she has started doing media training. this is something we're told by sources she started last fall. a way to improve her own communication skills because she's often the face of the cdc. going out there and communicating the new guidance. as she did recently when they changed that isolation period. if you've tested positive for covid-19. that is something that generated a lot of criticism, not just from people who are confused by it, jake, but also from doctors who said, yes, it did need a testing component to it. and so the other thing that we've heard, jake, is this criticism is not just coming from outside the cdc. it's also coming from inside the cdc where it's a lot of career staffers who some of them have worked at the agency their entire

the cdc recommends such and such and they make fun of the cdc. and these are not just vaccine skeptics making fun of them. it's basically all of twitter. >> yeah, you know, it's -- i do worry about this erosion of trust. i've been doing this long enough where i remember back in 2015, you know, during ebola, trust in governmental health agencies at that point was around 30%. 31st. so it's not unusual in the middle of a health catastrophe for there to be this erosion of trust. i think the biggest issue, though, is just the transparency. there's not enough tests. you just showed that clip saying that we were going to have enough tests. we were promised at least a half a billion tests by this point. there's not enough tests and it's because of the lack of tests we're getting this convoluted guidance. that's bad, but i think we should just be honest about the fact there's not enough tests instead of saying the tests really don't have value. you don't really need it. take it if you want it. that's ultimately what leads to the erosion of trust more than

. >> and the cbs -- cdc is facing backlash tonight. the agency is updating its guidance on masking and letter and 95 masks versus cloth mask. and there under fire tonight for not releasing data. by if they are being caused by a covid or somebody who dies with covid. omicron surges. we will head to georgia to discuss voting rights. the filibuster in an effort to push through an overhaul. we begin tonight with the cdc taking heat from both sides of the political aisle. kevin corke has that story tonight. >> happy monday, my friend. this time there under fire for inadequate the -- isolation, quarantine and most recently on testing, it's availability and wind delivery might happen, who needs it and went and who ends up paying for the test when they are picked up by consumers. many of the barbs are coming from people inside and outside the administration, as well as on the political right and left. >> the white house says insurance companies will be required to cover eight over-the-counter test per person each month beginning saturday, expan

the cdc putting out a public warning to people, don't get on cruise ships. ey bent backwards to make sure all safety protocols are in place. we had this statement from the cruise line industry association in response to the cdc saying a cruise ship provides one of the highest levels of demonstrated mitigation against the virus. we are disappointed and disagree with the cdc's decision to single out the cruise industry. i spoke today with the ceo of the port here, port canaveral. i said compare the safety of being on board a ship like that with perhaps another location. listen to what he said. >> they say you're probably more risked in a supermarket than on a cruise ship. is that an exaggeration? >> no. everybody is vaccinated, the crew and the passengers. that possibility exists in the grocery store. >> there you go. by the way, more than 90 ships under investigation or observation for covid. this morning we found out a norwegian cruise ship was cancelled to the caribbean in less than 24 hours notice because of covid. so certainly it is having an impact. to yo

we will have to see what the cdc says. but mind you, this is not a get out of jail free card, as easy as it would sound. there are problems with testing, let me give you one. it turns out the highly sensitive pcr tests can be positive for only days, but weeks after you recover completely. that does not mean you have a life of virus in your body and are contagious. that test is so sensitive it picks up a viral debris, little fragments of the virus that remain in your system for a long period of time. if people had the positive pcr tests for weeks, we do not want them to stay home for the whole time. so every test result has to be carefully interpreted. let us see what the cdc says going forward. a lot of people would like to test out. the other thing we have to remember is tests are not widely , completely and freely widely available. we are going to have to worry about equity issues. there are going to be people who do not have access financially to the test. are they going to have to remain in quarantine longer than people

the years i spent at cdc, i took advantage of media training whenever it was offered. enefit of many years working in media where i had training there as well in terms of communication. so i see that as a positive sign. this is -- communicating science and challenging decisions and subtleties of options and situations that are changing, it's not something that is necessarily innate. you definitely can learn ways to approach that that will help engender trust. will help people follow the guidance that you want them to follow. >> reporter: a cdc scientist tells cnn that dr. walensky issued this recent confusing guidance about isolation using only the advice of a small circle of top advisers instead of what some people consider to be a more traditional process of rigorous vetting by cdc experts. outside public health partners and others. does that raise any red flags for you or is that how it works when you're in the middle of a crisis like covid? >> it's hard for me to comment on that, jake, without knowing all the details. i would say that i thought it was a very positiv

the cdc director under fire at a key pandemic moment. today dr. olo briefing with reporters since the summer, that as new cnn reporting details frustrations with walensky at the white house and among some cdc scientists. plus, more covid economic disruption. the first jobs report of the new year is weak, but the

the director of the cdc is defending her leadership. and dr. chelle walensky held the first solo briefing and took questions from the reporters. as cnn has learned, the white house is growing increasingly frut frustrated with her and her message to the american public and the confusing guidance from the agency and walensky has been getting media training for months now to try to fix the problem. cnn's chief white house correspondent kaitlan collins broke the story. so ckaitlan, how is she responding to the criticism. >> we heard from her today. it is the first time the cdc has held its own independent briefing since the summer of 2021. normally they do it once a week and dr. fauci is often on the briefings but today it is just the cdc director, and some other scientists at the cdc taking questions from reporters and we're told by sources that is a decision that dr. walensky made this week pretty abruptly wanted to take the incoming questions given there are many generated by guidance head on. and she took the questions. a lot of questions that c

in fact, i think the cdc guidance is getting better, more timely. e biggest problem they've had is a communication problem. we have a failure to communicate. i really hope friday marks an inflection point, a turning point because for the first time in really memory of this pandemic cdc held a briefing from atlanta independently with technical experts, answered dozens of media questions, and that is what is needed regularly. so the cdc can explain what we know when we're learning it, what we don't know, what we're doing to try to find it out. the issues haven't been always the guidance so much as the communication but both need to get better. we need to see simple, clear, practical guidance and communication. >> it is not just the messaging. it is also the guidance. we know delta airlines for example lobbied the cdc to cut its guidelines on isolating from ten days to five and without a negative test which a lot of epidemiologists have criticized. other governments like the uks haven't done. when you were head of the cdc did you get lobbied by big busi

the cdc director under fire at a key pandemic moment. today dr. walensky holds her first solo briefing with reporters since the summer, that as new cnn reporting details frustrations with walensky at the white house and among some cdc scientists. plus, more covid economic disruption. the first jobs report of the new year is weak, but the unemployment rate sinks to a pandemic low and a judge right now weighing punishment for ahmaud arbery's punishmans. all three could get life in prison without parole. we begin with a new look at the economy and what it tells us about the strength of the pandemic recovery this. new look is also the first jobs report of the mid-term election year and as the such the headline number is a big disappointment for the biden white house. the economy added only 199,000 jobs last month. that's well short of expectations, but there are some good numbers here for you and for the president. the unemployment rate fell to 3.99%. that's a pandemic low, hand look at this. average wages up in a big way, up 4.7% from last year. the p

the cdc is about to announce new mask guidelines. at least an update to reflect the omicron reality. it comes as the white house promises more test kits to keep schools open. and one bay area county going to bring back banisters on large gatherings and recommend sheltering at home when possible. joining us to discuss these issues and answer your questions , infectious disease specialist dr. monica gandhi of ucsf. thank you for joining us. let's talk big picture. the omicron surge, record case numbers in california. any signs we are peaking? >> yes, there are signs we are peaking. new york was ahead of us. it has already peaked. boston is going down. our cases are starting to peak. it is called a nessie curve, it is coming down. hopefully not much longer. >> how long do you think before this wave is over? >> the models, at least in california, have shown peaking by mid-january. we are getting there. then it comes down fast. looking at south africa and the u.k.. it is going to take a while to come down. let's think of mid february bette

it is determined by scientists at the cdc. >> the cdc and dr. fauci, dr. walensky said part of that was what people will tolerate. we know it is important to keep schools open. isn't it time to incorporate other messaging points into this administration's discussion about how we emerge from this pandemic. we talk about how we are following science. it seems like we are also following economic needs and political needs and logistical needs. >> here is a difference from the last administration. we are not driving our decision-maker on on how we are addressing the pandemic through messaging or through political concerns. we are driving in bywater ecdc -- by what the cdc and the medical doctors and experts there convey. they update their guidance. they change their guidance. certainly, i am sure they have disagreements internally about what guidance they should put out. that is a healthy part of a discussion of a policy process. that is what we are driven by. that is why we do covid briefing so you can ask those questions. -- briefings so you can ask those que

yet another policy the cdc later revised. e insists cdc is following the science. >> is the cdc still led by science and not by other factors in determining its policies? >> jackie, the cdc is absolutely led by data and science. and again if they hadn't changed their recommendations over the course of time, schools would probably be closed across the country. >> even walensky admitted in a time interview published yesterday the cdc formed its policies by taking into account issues like keeping the workforce operational writing it was becoming clear from the healthcare system we would have people positive by asymptomatic and not able to work. a harbinger of what would come in all other essential functions of society. that followed her earlier comments that reducing the quarantine time from 10 days to five was based partly on quote what people would tolerate. the latest developments from the cdc there are no plans to change the definition of fully vaccinated to include a booster shot. that despite a month's long campaign to prom

>> reporter: well, wolf, criticism of the cdc and the -- and dr. rochelle walensky has grown to a fevered pitch after the new isolation and quarantine guidelines were released in recent week and amid the public messaging confusions around the guidelines in the last couple of weeks. this is frustration that dr. walensky is feeling not only from here at the white house, but also from outside public health experts as well as from within the cdc. and we know that messaging has been an issue for walensky and the cdc for months now. and that's why back in the fall, cnn is now learning that dr. walensky sought out media training from a prominent democratic media consultant, mandy grunwald, she's been doing that media training for several months now. we know dr. walensky is set to do her first solo press briefing since the summer to address some of the questions that she has been facing. but, really, it is not just about the messaging. it is also about the public health guidelines themselves and the way in which they have been crafted. i spoke with one cdc

. >>> tonight, the cdc sounding the alarm on the number of children being hospitalized across the u.s. what authorities are now saying to parents who have not vaccinated their children. and tonight, what the cdc director is now saying after so much criticism after recommending you should isolate for five days instead of ten. >>> overseas tonight, the president of kazakhstan now delivering shoot-to-kill orders with anti-government protesters, and what the u.s. is now saying tonight. >>> and this evening here, we celebrate the trailblazing actor and civil rights activist sidney poitier. the first black man to win the oscar for best actor. tonight, that moment with denzel washington. what oprah winfrey said just today. and sidney poitier in his own words tonight. what his mother always told him. >>> good evening. and it's great to have you with us as we near the end of another week together, and we begin with that powerful moment in court today, the judge in the ahmaud arbery case. today he sentenced the three men in the killing of arbery in brunswick, georgia. all of them facing life in

the cdc was warned it was too soon. nths later that guidance was once again reversed. and the rise of omicron has only led to more confusion and criticism. the cdc shortened its isolation period for those who test positive if they're asymptomatic or symptoms have improved. and no need for a negative test to exit quarantine. a change delta airlines had been lobbying the cdc for by the way. after facing backlash, including from the uk's health agency said the shortened isolation period would be counterproductive, the cdc edited that guidance, noting if people have access to a rapid test, they should test themselves after five days and continue to isolate if their test comes back positive. while the cdc and public continues to justify its chaotic and controversial decisions, in private, it's well aware it has a serious messaging problem. according to new reporting, its director dr. rochelle walensky has been receiving media coaching for months. i'm joined by former cdc director under president obama dr. tom frieden. thank y

the cdc is clear about that. >> dr. walensky? >> i did not have much to add, except to say that the best way to protect children under five is put a mask on if they are over two and surround them with people who are vaccinated. take those precautions that you can as a parent -- wearing your masks, and all those mitigation strategies. >>

the cdc is not in charge of testing. that is the administration and the testing shortages and issues that is a challenge that they're working on back at the white house, not at the cdc. >> and jeff, another top priority, of course, for the biden administration is the u.s. economy. but today's monthly jobs report was largely disappointing, right? >> wolf, it certainly was a mixed report. about 199,000 new jobs were added in december. which means 6 million were added this year. but this was the weakest report of any month of 2021. the good news is the unemployment rate now is down to 3.9%. that certainly is historic given the nature of the pandemic. it was a disappointing jobs number. so there certainly are implication complications on the economy, no question about it. but the president right now is visiting the wildfire damages in colorado as he makes his way out west. that's just one example of many of the economic and other challenges, the climate challenges facing this administration and indeed the country. so the pres

the cdc is clear about that. >> dr. walensky? i did not have much to add, except to say that the best way to protect children under five is put a mask on if they are over two and surround them with people who are vaccinated. take those precautions that you can as a parent -- wearing your masks, and all those mitigation strategies. >> >> the supreme court is considering challenges to the administration's vaccine mandate for private businesses that employ more than 100 workers. we will have live coverage of the oral argument friday starting at 10:00 a.m. eastern. you can also go to c-span.org or use our free c-span radio app, c-span now app. >> a new mobile video app, sees and now. download today♪ . ♪ joining us now is becky pringle, president of the national education association. thank you for giving us your time. caller: it is good -- guest: it is good to be with you again. host: to what level are you concerned about omicron and how it might impact those who go to school? guest: you know, we are coming up on two years, aren't we

the cdc now issuing new mask guidance for millions of americans. 'll tell you what they're saying now. >>> news tonight on free at-home test kits and in new york, what the governor is now say about the numbers they're seeing

the cdc is clear about that. >> dr. walensky? >> i did not have much to add, except to say that the best way to protect children under five is put a mask on if they are over two and surround them with people who are vaccinated. take those precautions that you can as a parent -- wearing your masks, and all those mitigation strategies. >> thank you, everybody. talk to you soon. ♪ >> c-span is your altered -- unfiltered view of government. >> we take you to the justice department. waiting for the briefing to start, where attorney general merrick garland is going to be marking the first anniversary of the january 6 attack on the u.s. capitol. he is expected to discuss efforts to combat terrorism and domestic terrorism. watching live coverage when the attorney general's remarks begin here on c-span. [chatter] [chatter] [chatter] >> just waiting for the briefing to start at the justice department with attorney general eric garland. heat will be marking the anniversary of the attack on the capitol. he is expected to discuss the departmen

it's pretty clear dra test, it is not policy for the cdc but he sees that as something the cdc will in the future. i believe that's what he saying. the sounds reasonable. gillian: it sounds reasonable for dr. fauci to get ahead of the cdc on one of the most important issues were facing right now, mind you there is a nationwide testing shortage crisis, no guidance on how americans could overcome that should they want to follow his recommendation that is not the cdc's recommendation. >> we don't want americans to die from covid we want to minimize the number of deaths. one way to test people to make sure they don't have it, this is common sense. >> this is not about whether common sense is correct or incorrect this is about what our nation's top medical officials are telling us to do, if it is common sense then why is the cdc not advocating it. >> this is an evolving situation once in a hundred year pandemic we are learning as we go in dr. fauci's and others in the u.s. government are doing their best to keep americans from dying. as the situation evolves their recommendations are invo

the cdc estimating 95% of them are now omicron. the lines for testing are growing even longer. tonight, president biden announcing he will double the purchase of pfizer's new covid pill, that anti-viral pill, the first of its kind, now 20 million doses purchased, though most won't be available until after this current surge. it comes as hospitalizations among children now soaring, record numbers. at texas children's hospital, for one, the numbers quadrupling there in a month. so, as i mentioned, dr. jha is standing by here, but first, our chief national correspondent matt gutman. >> reporter: tonight, the cdc under growing scrutiny for recommending that people infected with covid end isolation after five days without a test, now giving new guidance yet again, for americans who can and want to test. if it's positive, isolate another five days. if negative, leave isolation, but wear a mask and avoid high risk activity. the cdc says a negative rapid test does not guarantee you can't spread the virus. >> this is all about the fact that there's just not enough tests. they do work to

>> reporter: yeah, criticism of the cdc and of dr. in recent weeks amid the new isolation and quarantine guidelines and the messaging mishaps surrounding the guidelines. a lot of back and for the around them. there's been frustration here at the white house with the cdc messaging and i'm also told within the cdc there's frustration with how dr. walensky has issued the guidelines. we've learned that dr. walensky has undergone media train ---ing and here's how she defended her job today. >> we near an unprecedented time with the omicron cases rising, and we're working really hard to get information to the american public and balancing that with the realities we're all living with. this is hard, and i am committed to continue to improve as we learn more about the science and to communicate that with all of you. >> reporter: but frankly, it's not just a messaging problem. one cdc scientist i spoke with says the frustration stems from the way in which dr. walensky and her small circle of aides crafted these guidelines without undergoing so

i think the cdc needs to have a hard reset, led by dr. walensky but ultimately sported and driven by the white house as well about what is the cdc's role, and how they get better at formulating policies in a transparent and accountable way? >> and dr. nguyen, i wonder if it's a messaging issue or people not getting the message. i want to talk about schools. because under a new state order georgia public school teachers testing positive for covid-19 but remain asymptomatic may return to school if they wear a mask. that sounds pretty risky to me and stands in stark contrast with policies in place in other parts of the country, for example in chicago where the teachers don't want to go to the classroom right now. and you have all the kids who are in limo because the teachers union, they want more testing, want more contact tracing. we're all over the place in this country. so, my question is is how is the white house supposed to get the message right if everybody is just all over the place? >> well, the role of the cdc appear white house is t

the cdc under fire for confusion over testing and isolation guidelines what the agency's director said today. and omicron now impacting music's biggest night, the grammy's. >>> also this evening the deadly fire ripping through a philadelphia row house. at least 13 killed including 7 children what officials said about the smoke detectors. >>> the double winter storm threat blizzard conditions in the midwest. the the east coast a risk after that highway nightmare. al roker tracking it all. >>> the eve of a one-year anniversary of the capital riot. our exclusive inside the investigation. the rioters the fbi is still searching for. >>> the world's top tennis star turned away from australia. his visa canceled. the battle over his vaccination status. >>> and inside the super bowl of gadgets. how the pandemic is ushering in a new era of personalized tech. >>> this is nbc "nightly news" with lester holt, reporting tonight from washington, d.c. >>> good evening, everyone we're here ahead of tomorrow's solemn observances of the one-year anniversary of the attack on the capital. tonight we'll tak

probably going to get omicron and we have no one to blame but a timid government the bureaucrats at the fda, cdc and nih good deal doers who have crushed us i like to say this, there is always a good market somewhere i'm jim cramer see yo >>> the boston marathon bomber got covid relief money on death row. >>> and a raging fire disaster i'm shepard smith, this is the news on cnbc flames raced through a converted apartment building in philadelphia, at least 13 people dead including several children. >> losing so many kids is just devastating. >> the challenges that prevented more people from making an escape >>> closed for covid, chicago now ground zero in the battle to keep schools open. parents and students scrambling, the city wants kids back. >> the schools are safe. >> the teachers union wants more safeguards. >> please don't have the parents out here thinking that we are against their children >> the battle ahead. >>> investigating the january 6th insurrection, attorney general merrick garland promising justice. >> we will protect the corner stone of our democracy. >> now congress considers

the cdc is concerned with the number of children being hospitalized across the u.s. the numbers spiking and what some authorities are saying to parents who have not vaccinated children 5 and older who are eligible. tonight what the cdc director is now say after so much criticism after recommending that you should isolate for five days instead of ten. here's our chief national correspondent matt gutman tonight. >> reporter: tonight, the cdc is reporting that children under 5 who are too young to get the vaccine are being hospitalized at double the rate than a month ago. in new york, hospital admissions for that age group rising eight fold in the last month. and many of the children in the hospital are also older, eligible for the vaccine, but still have yet to get the shot. >> those children who are hospitalized do not have to be scared, frightened, lying in a hospital bed. they do not have to be there. thousands of children have been vaccinated safely. >> reporter: in massachusetts, 15-year-old kurt ryan passing away tuesday of covid complications after getting sick

with the cdc. they track and trace disease. she needs to be front and center. we also need to urge people to get a flu vaccine for heavens sakes. we have been dealing with that for years where 50,000 americans a year, approximately, die from the flu. the combination of coronavirus and the flu is really difficult for lot of already compromised individuals. as we're promoting vavaccines, need to throw in the flu along with it. i do think while i have great admiration for the advice that we need upgradegraded vak d vac have to look at new variants. it's rapidly spreading and focus on folk who is can really arm themselves up to children down to the age of 5 can be vaccinated. children over 12 can be boosted. let's get people fully armored against what we know is spreading right now and get information to people on a daily basis about what they can do, how they can take care of thems and their family. hold up they can continue to work and be in school. if we didn't learn anything else, what we know abou

you served as the cdc director. if the message isn't getting relayed correctly, at what point do they need to find, this is a blunt question, a new messenger? >> well, i think they need to start messaging regularly from atlanta. week and a half ago for the first time drrks walensky and two of the doctors briefed the media. that needs to be happening at least once a week. so much is changing. the virus is adapting to people. we need to adapt to the virus. that means learn how it's changing. omicron is not a wave, wolf. it's a tsunami. there are huge numbers. but the more we learn, the more it's clear that it's not causing anything like the kind of severe illness that prior waves did. that means nothing about what the next wave may be. maybe delta will come back. maybe another variant will come. maybe no other variants will come and that kind of uncertainty means at the beginning of every statement we should say, based on what we know now, here is our best advice for how you can be safe and keep your family and communi

ground hog has to say. >> reporter: late night comedy shows weren't the only ones taking shots at the cdc this week after the agency updated guidelines on isolation and quarantine for covid >> it is confusing it does feel like a bit of a choose your own adventure. >> reporter: even doctors criticized the agency for an overly complicated message, the american medical association calling the guidance confusing and counterproductive and said the lack of testing as part of the isolation guidelines risks further spread of the virus. a "new york times" column claims the cdc is hoping you'll figure out covid on your own. polling data from gallop suggests more americans agree the cdc has communicated a clear plan of action on covid than disagree, at least as of early december confidence is much higher than in low points of september 2020, and january 2021, although not as high as it's been, and communications during pandemics are never easy >> the cdc's been doing kind of a mostly good job. >> director of media relations for the cdc until 2011, a tenure that included the 2009 h1n1 flu pandemic >>

doctor, let me ask you about the new isolation guidance we have received from the cdc. -- and i am quoting you now, confusing and counterproductive, so what are they getting wrong? >> well, it is a good point, wolf. to your point, what we at the ama have is a concern that if you are going to end a period of isolation after an active covid infection, it would be nice to have, in fact, we would recommend a valid negative covid test, an antigen test, a rapid test in order to ensure you are no longer shedding the virus, no longer transmissible and you tend to validate you are not contagious before you go back into your workforce, your family, and potential shed the virus more. >> i think that's significant as well. sanjay, you have a news say on this issue coming out soon on cnn.com about how the cdc is missing the mark on these guidelines. what do you see as the main failure here? >> well, first of all, i completely agree with dr. harmon here on the fact it is confusing. i mean there's a couple of things. i don't know if we have this graph, wolf. i want to show you one of t

it's clear we need to figure out a way to live with covid so why is the cdc so opaque about it? ght party panel and we will discover everything here with town hall.com fox news jupiter fresh out of the five, katie pavlich and former state department deputy spokesperson and fox news contribute or marie harf and medications vice president for young americans for liberty. welcome, everyone. >> hello. kennedy: good to see you all, happy monday. let's start the week right. obviously lot of people have gotten covid recently especially with the new bearings have had breakthrough infections, they've done all the right things, they've done what they've been directed to do by the cdc and personal ways, people are frustrated and we are starting to realize yes, we have to live with this but it's impossible when the federal government is the arbiter of all things that shut every part of life down, katie. they are still at it. >> the new admission from the cdc director is so enraging but i'm hoping to take the silver lining and think that maybe they are starting to realize you can't just keep

the cdc has offered confusing and at sometimes contradictory advice. the supreme court seems skeptical about the best tool in biden's toolbox, the vaccine mandates, and stay-at-home guidelines and school closures have given us a feeling of a recurring nightmare. all of it adds up to a big political problem for the president who pledged to restore confidence in the government's ability to competently handle this crisis. >> the new normal is not going to be what it is now. it's going to be better. >> president biden, elected promising to shut down the virus -- >> the first step i will take will be to get control of the virus. >> -- now faces an unprecedented surge. >> the largest influx of patients we've ever taken care of. >> nearly one in four hospitals report a critical staff shortage. at the luminis health doctors community medical center in maryland, covid cases are up 925% since thanksgiving. 70% of the patients are unvaccinated. >> it's very tough. a lot of times you have to take a break. you cry and come back and do it all over again. >> as omicro

, and there is frustration with the white house toward the cdc. but it's also confusion coming from the president himself at times, and so the question i think now is whether not just the cd -- can the cdc turn this around and try to fix this? can they do it with this particular cdc director, and how does it happen? there are tests the white house is facing in this respect that could either compound the issue or maybe set them on better footing. you mentioned the supreme court issue, but also they're supposed to send out these tests to homes, and that involves obviously a heavy lift in terms of getting 500 million tests out to individuals who want to get them. they have to set up a website. that hasn't always been the government's best thing they learn -- know how to do. so whether they can clear those sorts of hurdles and try to get this on a more stable footing where people can have confidence in what they're saying is a real open question now, and there are some things ahead that will determine whether or not that can be the case. but this is a

and there are other communications issues with the cdc continuing. rmer state department spokesperson. amy walter publisher and editor of chief of the cook political report matthew continetti. matthew, let me start with you. new guidance different than the old guidance, supposed to get a test after five days if you are fever free after four hours. i feel like we need a white board. this is what they are saying but the challenge is you have to get a test to be able to do it. >> and you can't get a test. what did andy warhol say everyone will be famous for 15 minutes. the future cdc will issue new guidance every 15 minutes for how they behave if you contract only chron. bret, i think the white house has developed a herd immunity to reality they need to see the omicron event as a game changer. it seems to be less severe. it certainly can't be controlled. we're far beyond that and so the white house needs to stop putting fauci as the face of their pandemic response and move to having biden be the face of the pandemic response speaking in prime time and ta

the fda has to authorize, then the cdc makes recommendations about their use. then you have the manufacturers, the private sector. they have not been manufacturing enough rapid tests. the white house and the administration certainly could have done more earlier to work with the private sector to create a more stable demand by putting in large-volume orders. then finally on the back end, you have the private sector, everyone from walmart to health care systems that are miss excerpting -- willfully miss excerpting the cdc isolation guidance saying, now you have to go back to work at five days. that guidance is to indicate who is infectious, contagious, a threat to others, not when you're well enough to go back to work. >> very quickly, zeke, are we ready for the next variant? we weren't ready for omicron. are we ready for the next one? >> i think we have to prepare more and get better -- get more vaccines out there, more tests, but also better air quality. people have to wear better masks and be more scrupulous about it. if it's like omicron where we're not that i

so the cdc now says the isolation period is a five days. it used to be ten. that was the recommendation before. and a quick note here. a lot of people seem to be confused about this. the isolation period begins on the day you test positive. and if you do not have symptoms after the five days of isolation, you can go back to work. that's what the cdc says. go back to your normal life. you do still have to wear a mask for an additional five days at least. now if you do have symptoms after that five-day isolation period, the cdc says you should stay home until you feel better and start wearing a mask at all times, everywhere you go. >> say, i'm at home, it's not getting better and maybe it's getting worse. at what point do you say i can't just stay isolated at home i need to go to the er. >> that's a good question, when do you call your doctor or go to the er? if you have any of these symptoms, the cdc says you should contact your provider right away, they include trouble breathing, unable to stay awake and we have a lot more of this information online, nbcbayar

what should the cdc do? apd cr, we tried it, doesn't work -- pcr, we tried it, doesn't work and we need to look at rapid testing? dr.bhakti: the messages we just don't have enough tests, access to tests -- rapid tests are expensive and not available to a major part of our society. if you are symptomatic, you should isolate the full 10 days. after five days from the outset, most people will be on infectious but about 31% will continue to be infectious and there is a risk they will continue to transmit the virus onwards. tom: you are a claim -- your acclaim worldwide, i don't think that describes america. how did we get in a spot where we don't have enough rapid tests? dr. hansoti: we had a lot of tests available within the facility. the consumer market, rapid tests were approved by the fda. a number of tests -- there was over 400 tests approved that are not rapid tests but there is distribution, marketshare, and the pricing of the tests which really can cause delays in making sure everyone has access to a test

anthony fauci. >> it's something that absolutely should be considered and i believe the cdc is going that. >> reporter: they did saying people can test if they want to, but if they test positive they should isolate for five more days. the head of the american medical association says all of this is not only confusing but risking further spread of the virus. dr. tom freeman was cdc director under the obama administration. >> and yes, there are some judgment calls so be frank about them. >> reporter: now, cnn has learned dr. walensky is in media training. for months she's been meeting with a consultant to improve communication skills. today, she held a rare solo news conference. >> this is hard and i'm committed to continue to improve as we learn more about the science and communicate that with all of you. >> reporter: the well regarded infectious disease expert had no government experience before president biden appointed her and has often seemed out of step with the white house and dr. fauci, leading to some abrupt and changing confusion in guidance. in may she announced vaccinated p

you mention the somewhat confused and confusing messaging of the cdc. something that has been frustrating to you for a while? >> again, this is science, this is not mathematics. the numbers may change. the data may indicate different transmission variants. we are learning. the cdc, all of my scientists and myself on the front lines. we are learning. the messaging may change at times but it is not -- to confuse people because we know what we're are doi or the cdc doesn't. science is a changing discipline in data tells us what to advise. we are recommending medical grade masks. i use this this morning and i have an n95, for when i am in the environment had i do not use cloth masks because i think the science shows they are not asy a protective especially with the transmissibility of the omicron variant. >> if a patient comes to you and says look i tested positive . i have been in isolation for 4 5 days without a test not sure about symptoms what would you advise them to do >> they do come to me with that question. that is not just a hypothetical thought ex

breaking tonight, the cdc panel recommending booster shots for kids 12 to 15 that's welcome news. at the same time, the cdc finds itself facing backlash over some of its other recommendations. concerning how long those who have tested positive for covid should isolate and whether a negative test should be required to end that isolation. some wondering whether some of the decisions at the agency are being driven by science or by the shortage of rapid test kits tom costello is covering it all. >> reporter: breaking tonight, a cdc panel now recommending a single pfizer booster shot for 12 to 15-year-olds five months after their second dose. it comes after the fda approved the shot on monday full cdc approval is imminent meanwhile, with new covid cases up 98% in just one week, the omicron surge forced another major event, this time the grammys, to postpone. the january 31st show now on indefinite hold as hospitalizations are up 63%, deaths up 5% to 1,200 each day most of those patients never vaxxed. >> without a doubt, unequivocally, we are dealing with a highly highly transmissible va

bye-bye. >>> tonight, the urgent warning from the cdc. vid hospitalizations soaring among children too young to get the vaccine. the cdc saying kids 4 and younger are being hospitalized in record numbers amid the omicron surge. nationwide hospitals are overwhelmed and short staffed. our rare access inside the covid icu in a hospital that's seen a 900% jump in covid cases since thanksgiving >>> and new information tonight on getting those free covid tests promised by president biden. >>> also tonight, the supreme court hearing arguments over the president's vaccine mandates the signal that the justices gave on how they may rule. >>> the three men convicted in the murder of ahmaud arbery sentenced how long they will spend behind bars, and the emotional words in court today from arbery's mother. >>> the major winter storm slamming the east coast up to a foot of snow, dangerous road conditions and next the bitter cold moving in the deadly crackdown kazakhstan's president issuing a shoot-to-kill order. to quell violent protesters the new crisis

soon more covid revisions from the cdc. the agency is expected to update its uselation guidance for the second time in as many weeks. pandemic hospitalizations now again over 100,000, and omicron now responsible for 95% of new infections nationwide. plus, a total setup. an fbi conspiracy, ain't if a, the democrats. we will take a jarring look at the january 6th lies donald trump supporters believe to their core, and the top senate democrat says doing nothing is not an option on voting rights, but chuck schumer has had a math problem, and it's a familiar one. we begin today though with the staggering new covid numbers and the disruption and anxiety they are causing across american life. more than 1 million new infections were reported monday, yes, that number is bloated because of holiday weekend reporting backlogs. still, look at the numbers. the united states nearly averaging nearly 500,000 new covid cases a day, more than 100,000 americans are hospitalized right now with covid-19. it's the first time that count has hit six

now cdc director rochelle walensky is facing backlash for the agency's lack of clear messaging. cnn's gabe cohen has had. >> as we have articulated before cdc is working on updated guidance. >> reporter: the cdc director facing renewed criticism from within the white house and her own agency after yet another guidance gaffe. a source telling cnn that cdc scientists are increasingly frustrated with walensky's handling of guidance and between her circumventing their vetting process for guidelines and the public criticism morale at the agency is sinking. >> it really had a lot to do with what we thought people would be able to tolerate. >> reporter: it comes after the cdc cut the covid isolation period from ten days to five, making no mention of a negative test, drawing push back from health experts and contradiction from the surgeon general. >> they have certainly received feedback and questions about the role of testing. >> reporter: as well as dr. anthony fauci. >> i'm saying it's something that absolutely should be considered and i believe the cdc is going to clarify that. >> re

do we expect the same from the cdc? >> the fda has given a green light for booster shots to 12 to 15-year-olds, and yes, we are expecting the same thing from cdc advisors who are meeting as we speak, and later from rochelle walensky who is the head of the cdc. we are expecting all those folks to greenlight it. let's take a look at what will happen. the cdc is expected to greenlight pfizer booster shots because pfizer is the only vaccine kids that age can get, for 12 to 15-year-olds. we're expecting they'll say five months after the second shot, and that is millions of children who would be eligible, and we hear boosters could begin immediately. that's the way this has worked in other vaccine and booster situations, and those shots are there. they're in pharmacies and other places. it's very easy to do. now, while this is important, these children need to get boosted. it can help them against omicron. there is another number, i think, that's even more important, and that is actually a really bad news number. 39% of childr

as you mentioned, from the cdc. and the director tried to clear up some things that the cdc has said about guidance. their guidelines about returning to the classroom has changed over the past couple of years as we've been dealing with the p pandemic. listen to the new guidelines anned why she believes this is the most effective route right now. >> so we know that the vast majority of your contagiousness by day five is really behind you. so in this moment where we're evaluating the science and looking at the epidemiology of the disease, we said five days of isolation then are you feeling better? is your cough gone? if your symptoms are gone, we say come, you're okay to come out of that isolation, but you need to wear a mask all of the time. >> yes, so that is not the guidelines that we had at the start of this pandemic and they've changed quite a few times, which makes things confusing. jim, i mentioned the bay area having issues there. teachers formed a sick out where they called in sick to protest what was going on