US – Coronavirus: CDCs relax mask use recommendations

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) significantly relaxed on Friday (25/2) their recommendations for the use of the mask, even in schools. The new guidelines no longer focus on the rate of coronavirus transmission, but on monitoring hospital admissions, hospital bed coverage and infection rates.

Until yesterday, only 5% of US counties met their criteria CDC to lift the measure of compulsory mask use indoors, as the remaining 95% were designated as areas with a high virus transmission rate.

“We are in a stronger position today as a country, with more tools to protect ourselves and our community from Covid-19“, Said the director of CDC Rochelle Wallenski at a press conference, noting the availability of vaccines, the population’s access to virus detection tests, the availability of high-protection masks and access to new treatments. “Thanks to the broad immunity of the population, the overall risk of serious disease is now generally lower,” he said.

The reason behind the review of the recommendations

The revision of the recommendations comes as the outbreak of cases due to it Omicron variant seems to decline substantially on USA and states such as New Jersey are announcing plans to remove the mandatory mask measure indoors, such as in schools and other public facilities.

Under the new guidelines, there are three categories – low, medium and high risk – based on the availability of hospital beds and the number of cases. Covid-19.

The CDC recommend that residents of “moderate” areas who are at increased risk of complications from the disease (eg immunosuppressed) consult their doctors about whether to wear a mask.

With the pandemic now in its third year, many Americans are tired of wearing masks. In addition, studies have shown that for vaccinated people the infections from Omicron variant were not as severe and were less likely to cause hospitalization or death compared to previous coronavirus variants.

Travelers will still need a mask on planes, trains and buses, as well as at airports and train stations. These requirements are valid until March 18 and CDC will review them in the coming weeks, she said Wallensky.

The new guidelines apply to both the vaccinated and the unvaccinated.

THE Dr. Ames Antalyainfectious disease specialist at Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security stated that the changes make sense given the rate of transmission of the virus on USA is high, but the hospitalizations of patients with Covid-19 remain low. “Focusing on the availability of hospital beds is a much better criterion and has always been our main concern,” he said.

Recommendation for using a mask in schools

According to CDC Mask use in schools will now only be recommended in “high risk” communities for Covid-19contrary to what has been the case to date (recommendation for the use of a mask regardless of the rate of transmission of the virus to the community).

“We have to be flexible and be able to say that we need to relax the precautionary measures when things are going well,” she said. Wallenskyadding: “and we must also be able to restore them in case a new variant (of the coronavirus) appears and the cases increase”.

The American ones Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have been criticized for changes in their attitude towards mask use. Last spring the Wallensky had told vaccinated Americans that it was safe to remove the masks indoors in areas with a low rate of transmission of the virus, but it backfired a few months later when it became clear that even fully vaccinated people could transmit the virus.

Just last month, in an interview with Reuters, the Wallensky he had said that “now is not the time” for the masks to go out in schools, after his principles New Jerseyτου Connecticutτου Delawareτης California and his Oregon stated that they planned to lift the measure for the mandatory use of the mask in schools and other enclosed spaces.