As COVID-19 transmissions continue to rise in the United States, the CDC recommends mask-wearing indoors regardless of vaccination status.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) previously announced that masks were no longer necessary among vaccinated individuals. This even became one of the benefits of getting the jabs, with many deeming it as “freedom.”
But, the Delta variant emerged and changed the dynamic. It has since become the dominant strain, causing the recent surge of cases across the country.
Experts noted, however, that the majority of the cases involve the unvaccinated eligible population. Despite this, though, new information has since come to light, leading the health agency to update its guidance on wearing masks.
New mask guidelines from the CDC
On Tuesday, the CDC issued new recommendations to the public. Al Jazeera reported that the guidance now urges vaccinated individuals to wear masks indoors to prevent the further spread of the Delta variant.
The agency cited new information about the highly transmissible strain, referring to it as the deciding factor behind the latest recommendations. As noted, the B.1.617.2 variant has the ability to spread even among those who have completed their vaccinations.
This only applies, however, to “areas with substantial and high transmission” of the virus. Moreover, the recommendations also include “teachers, staff, students, and visitors to schools, regardless of vaccination status.”
CDC Director Rochelle Walensky consequently emphasized vaccinated individuals may still pass the virus on to others. Nevertheless, she said that Americans who have completed their doses “represent a very small amount of transmission.”
U.S. President urges public to follow
Following the latest guidance, the U.S. President issued a statement about the matter. He said that he will observe the recommendations from CDC when he travels to parts of the country with high rates of COVID-19 infection.
Joe Biden, then, encouraged all Americans who reside in these areas to do the same, as well. In addition, he also talked about the vaccination scene in the country, noting that they “still need to do better.”
COVID-19 situation in the United States
The latest guidance comes as the United States faces a continued spike of new daily COVID-19 infections. Reports said that the country is averaging more than 57,000 cases and 24,000 hospitalizations per day.
This is reportedly an increase of 65 percent from the figures last week. Apart from the CDC and other health experts, several officials also stated that the surges are more apparent in areas with low vaccination rates.
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