Americans are fully vaccinated Coronavirus disease US authorities said on Tuesday that in areas where the coronavirus, especially the delta virus, is spreading rapidly, masks should be worn in indoor public places again.
This U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also recommends that all students and teachers from kindergarten to 12th grade wear masks, regardless of vaccinations. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention stated that children should resume full-time, face-to-face learning in the fall and adopt appropriate preventive strategies.
These changes marked the reversal of the CDC’s announcement in May, which prompted millions of vaccinated Americans to take off their masks.
The United States leads the world in the average number of new infections per day, accounting for one-ninth of the number of cases reported every day in the world. The 7-day average of new cases has been rising sharply, reaching 57,126, which is still about a quarter of the peak of the pandemic.
The agency stated: “In areas with high transmission and high transmission, CDC recommends that fully vaccinated people wear masks in public indoor environments to help prevent the spread of Delta and protect others.”
The CDC stated that 63% of the counties in the United States have a high transmission rate, and masks are required. Delta variants are highly spreadable.
In May, the agency recommended that fully vaccinated people do not need to wear masks outdoors, and in most places they can avoid wearing masks indoors. The agency stated that the guidance will allow life to begin to return to normal.
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Dr. David Dudi, an epidemiologist at Johns Hopkins University, said that the CDC’s guidelines are driven by changes in infection patterns. “We see that the number of cases doubles every 10 days or so,” he said.
Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, praised the new CDC mask guidelines in a statement, saying it is necessary to “respond to the changing reality of the spread of the virus.”
She called this a “necessary precaution before children under 12 can get the COVID vaccine and more Americans over 12 can get the vaccine.”
The CDC’s new recommendations are non-binding, and many Americans, especially in states favored by the Republican Party, may choose not to follow these recommendations. At least eight states prohibit schools from requiring masks.
Dr. Isaac Wesfors, a medical epidemiologist and adjunct professor at Cornell University’s School of Public Health, said some people may develop resistance. “I think we will get a counterattack because I think people might see it as a step backwards,” he said.
On Monday, the Biden administration confirmed that it will not remove any existing international travel restrictions, citing the increasing number of COVID-19 cases, and it is expected that these cases will continue to increase in the coming weeks.
Under the leadership of former President Donald Trump (Donald Trump) who refused to force the wearing of face masks, masks became a political issue in the United States. President Joe Biden began wearing masks a few days after taking office and asked to wear masks in transportation hubs.
(Reporting by David Shepardson; additional reporting by Nandita Bose; editing by Rosalba O’Brien and Bill Berkrot)
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