During the Covid-19 pandemic, the 6-foot social distancing guideline that was widely adopted was clarified by Dr. Anthony Fauci to have originated from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and not from him personally. Fauci emphasized that the CDC was responsible for issuing such guidelines to schools, distancing himself from the specific recommendation.
While Fauci reiterated the 6-foot guidance during the pandemic, he previously mentioned that there was no scientific basis for it, clarifying that the lack of science referred to the absence of clinical trials supporting the exact distance. He explained that the CDC likely based the recommendation on studies regarding droplets conducted years ago.
Initially, the CDC advocated for the 6-foot social distancing rule under the assumption that larger contaminated droplets would fall out of the air quickly and not travel beyond 6 feet. This guidance was in line with the World Health Organization's suggestion of maintaining a meter, or 3.3 feet, of distance between individuals. However, as early as 2021, scientists began to recognize that the coronavirus could spread through airborne transmission, prompting a reevaluation of the distancing recommendations.
