Mask Wearing Recommended again by CDC

Foto/EFE

TWO-THIRDS OF COUNTIES IN THE UNITED STATES HAVE HIGH RATES OF COVID-19 INFECTIONS

Newsroom El Comercio de Colorado

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The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommended that fully vaccinated Americans wear a mask indoors in most of the country as well as in schools. This change in the CDC guidelines is in response to the increase in infections in the country by the delta variant, much more contagious than previous iterations of the virus and which already accounts for at least 83 percent of COVID-19 cases in the United States.

“In public and indoor areas with high rates of infection, the CDC recommends that fully vaccinated people wear a mask,” said the director of the federal agency, Rochelle Walensky, in a telephone press conference. Additionally, he recommended the use of a mask for teachers, staff, students, and visitors in schools K-12, regardless of their vaccination status.”

Concern for Delta

In mid-May, as the vaccination campaign in the United States progressed, the CDC noted that those fully inoculated could function without a mask most of the time, even indoors. The change in these guidelines is due to the “concern” within the CDC upon the review of new studies indicating that “in exceptional cases, some of the people vaccinated and infected with the delta variant may be contagious,” said Walensky.

Nearly two-thirds of counties in the United States have high or notable rates of COVID-19 cases by CDC benchmarks, so the agency’s recommendations apply to most of the country. However, the new guidelines do not imply a mandate at the national level, since those issued by the CDC have always been recommendations. However, these suggestions influence the decisions of authorities in each state, as well as in local governments.

WHO’s Point of View

At the end of June, given the expansion of the delta variant, the World Health Organization (WHO) suggested that those fully vaccinated should continue to wear a mask, especially in high case areas. However, the United States has continued to maintain previous guidelines. In the last week, infections have risen almost 47 percent in the US and hospital admissions have increased 32 percent.

Vaccination remains practically stagnant, with only 57 per cent of those over 12 years of age fully vaccinated, according to the CDC.

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