In light of the rapidly increasing delta variant, the U.S Centre for Disease Control and Prevention has taken the bold decision of amending their mandates. The CDC mask guidelines are back in full form as the team urges vaccinated people to keep their masks indoors and in public areas.
According to CDC Director Rochelle Walensky, people in areas with “substantial” Covid-19 transmission should start to wear masks indoors again. The data collected by the CDC shows that nearly two-thirds of U.S counties have a “substantial” transmission rate of Covid-19.
In a public statement, Walensky testified to have seen “new scientific data from recent outbreak investigations showing that that Delta variant behaves uniquely differently from past strains of the virus that cause Covid-19.”
She also acknowledged the mental turmoil of people throughout the pandemic. With “continued sickness and death,” health facilities have also been working capacity, said Walensky. Given that, the CDC mask guidelines going up again won’t be such positive news for those who have already taken both doses of the vaccine.
The revised CDC mask guidelines come nearly two months after President Joe Biden jubilantly proclaimed it as a “great day in America.” This declaration had come soon after the CDC had removed the mask mandate for people in the States.
The latest guidance put forward by the CDC states that county leaders must make a conscious effort to encourage vaccination and adherence to mask guidelines to prevent high rates of transmission. Additionally, the agency has also advised people to don masks indoors, regardless of their current vaccination status.
Earlier this week, top officials convened to discuss the new data and proof connected with the high transmissibility of the new variant. When the CDC had earlier decided to remove the mask mandate, the process had moved so fast that the White House was only informed a day before the official decision.
Now, the process is moving in a much-organized way, with both parties fully on board with the decision-making method. Time and time again, White House officials have said that CDC can decide the line of action by themselves. With the new CDC mask guidelines in play, the White House is hoping for a better outlook for the people and the country as a whole.
