US Secretary of State tours CDC, speaks exclusively to Channel 2 Action News

In an exclusive interview with Channel 2 Action News, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken welcomed the news that COVID-19 is no longer considered a global health emergency.

Blinken toured Atlanta’s Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Friday afternoon.

Channel 2′s Richard Elliot was inside the CDC when news broke that Dr. Rochelle Walensky resigned as director for no reason given. She was with Blinken.

Blinken had nothing but praise for Walensky and everyone at the CDC.

“The state department has an incredible relationship with the CDC,” Blinked told Elliot shortly after his touring the facility.

Blinken got a look at the CDC’s Emergency Operations Center, one of the places from which CDC experts monitored the spread of COVID-19.

Blinken said the CDC played a vital role in controlling the pandemic not just here but worldwide.

“Health security is actually national security, and we’ve learned the hard way with COVID-19, that something that started halfway around the world can come and bite us here,” Blinken said.

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Joining Blinken on that tour was CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky.

While Elliot was in the CDC’s emergency operations center, Channel 2 Action News learned that Walensky decided to resign, with no reason immediately given.

Blinken told Elliot that Walensky was a great asset to him in the State Department and helped guide the US through the worst of the pandemic.

“I’m just full of deep appreciation, not just in my role as Secretary of State, but as an American for everything she has done to make this country healthier, safer, more secure,” Blinken said.

He pointed out that starting next week, the US government will end its public health emergency declaration which will end a lot of pandemic support measures.

Blinken plans to visit Clark Atlanta on Saturday and deliver the commencement address at Georgia Tech’s graduation.

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