President Trump answers questions as Vice President Pence and Dr. Anthony Fauci listen during an announcement of the Trump administration's guidelines for "Opening Up America Again" at the daily coronavirus task force briefing at the White House on Thursday, April 16, 2020. (Reuters/Leah Millis)

White House guidelines on how states can reopen amid the coronavirus pandemic are far less detailed than guidance drafted recently by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The blueprint from those agencies was sent to the White House coronavirus task force.

In recent days, White House officials had asked the CDC for detailed guidance on reopening in four settings: schools and day camps; child-care facilities; workplaces with vulnerable employees; and faith communities, according to a federal official involved in the response who spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe internal discussions.

The CDC provided “long bulleted lists with a page-and-a-half of specific guidance for each setting,” said the official, who has seen the CDC guidance.

For example, the CDC guidance for houses of worship included recommendations for plans to protect staff and congregants from infection, to make worship services available for remote viewing and to remove hymnals and bibles and other items that can be shared. The CDC guidance also called for modifying religious rituals and services and the collection of financial contributions.

By comparison, the White House-issued guidelines state that places of worship can operate under “strict physical distancing protocols” in phase 1, under “moderate physical distancing protocols” in phase 2 and under “limited physical distancing protocols” in phase 3. The White House provides no additional specifics.

The initial reaction from state health groups was generally positive.

“We are glad that the proposal leaves the ultimate decision to reopen to the states that are currently developing similar reopening plans,” said Michael Fraser, executive director of the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials.