Key Highlights:
- CDC advises vaccinated people to wear masks.
- Some jurisdictions have already reintroduced mask regulations for all residents, regardless of immunization status.
- The new modification is a critical move in the face of the Delta surge.
Vaccinated people to wear masks
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published new recommendations advising persons who have been immunized against COVID-19 to wear masks in public, indoor settings in high-risk locations. The CDC also advised kids, teachers, and staff to wear masks to school, even if they have been vaccinated.
Earlier in July, the American Academy of Pediatrics released similar recommendations for schools. The statements represent a reversal of the agency’s May guideline, which said that fully vaccinated individuals did not need to wear masks in most instances. At the time, the number of reported cases was decreasing across the country.
The extremely contagious Delta variant is now spreading throughout the country, with cases on the rise in most districts, particularly in those with poor vaccination rates.
Vaccines not flawless
COVID-19 vaccinations are extremely successful in avoiding severe instances of illness and death. However, they are not flawless, and even those who have been properly vaccinated can become infected with the virus. Data from the United States and other countries suggest that, in rare circumstances, persons who have been vaccinated but are infected can become ill and spread the virus to others, according to CDC Director Rochelle Walensky in a news conference today.
“We thought it was important for people to understand that they can still infect someone. That is important in the case, for example, of vaccinated, individuals who might be going to visit an immunocompromised family member, we wanted to make sure that they have precautions necessary,” Walensky said. Still, “The vast majority of transmission occurring is occurring through unvaccinated individuals,” she said in today’s briefing.
Some jurisdictions, such as Los Angeles County, have already reintroduced mask regulations for all residents, regardless of immunization status.
Critical move amidst Delta Surge
According to a senior Biden administration source, the CDC did not act more swiftly to reestablish mask guidelines because it was concerned about seeming to “flip-flop” on the subject. Masks have been a tumultuous, heated subject since the outbreak began, and many have been upset by fluctuating restrictions.
According to experts, the new modification is a critical move in the face of the Delta surge.
The guidelines, however, are not requirements; it is the responsibility of state and municipal governments to enact and enforce masking regulations. At this stage in the epidemic, when officials claimed that the end was near, convincing individuals to put on masks again may be difficult.
Also Read: COVID-19 Vaccine Passports: Learning from previous rollouts
