The CDC has relaxed mask regulations as part of new Covid-19 guidelines
Key Takeaways:
- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the United States has relaxed mask suggestions for the vast majority of the country, affecting roughly 70% of Americans immediately.
- Based on these factors, counties can ascertain whether their residents are at a low, medium, or high risk.
Under a new framework, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has relaxed mask recommendations for most of the country, affecting roughly 70% of Americans immediately.
The Washington Post reported that "the new guidelines, which went into effect Friday, reflect the administration's perspective that the US has inputted a different, potentially less dangerous phase of the pandemic."
According to the new guidelines, 70% of Americans can now stop wearing masks and are no longer required to maintain social distance or avoid crowded indoor spaces. According to the Xinhua news agency, the change follows a relaxation of restrictions by most governors in response to nosediving case counts and public pressure.
"The shift reflects the fact that most communities have greater protection against severe disease after more than 2 years of living with the virus, thanks to widespread immunity acquired from both immunizations and infections, as well as increased availability of treatments, testing, and also higher-quality masks," according to the report.
The new framework directs counties to assess three factors when determining the need for restrictions: new Covid-19-related hospitalizations in the previous week, the percentage of hospital beds occupied by Covid patients, and new cases per 100,000 people in the previous week.
Based on these factors, counties can determine whether their residents face a low, medium, or high risk. According to the CDC, only high-risk areas should require everyone to wear a mask, but unimmunized people must wear masks even in low-risk areas.
Until a decision has been made around March 18, when the order is set to expire, Americans will be required to wear face coverings on public transportation, including buses, trains, and planes.
Since July, the CDC has recommended universal masking in schools, regardless of virus levels in the community, but the fresh guidelines only recommend masking in schools in high-risk counties.
The New York Times said that "the new guidelines are being released as the coronavirus is in retreat throughout the country."
Linsey Marr, an aerosol scientist at Virginia Tech, was quoted as saying, "We're well past the surge." "We don't have to be in emergency mode any longer."
Most states have relaxed mask-wearing regulations, with some, such as New Jersey, announcing plans to lift mandates even in schools and others poised to do so in the coming weeks.
Under the previous CDC criteria, 95% of counties in the United States were classified as high risk, whereas fewer than 30% of Americans live in high-risk areas under new criteria.
According to the report, "an official suggestion from the CDC may hold some sway in districts that have been more cautious."