The policy recommending the use of masks in closed spaces has re-entered into force in the United States.
The decision, made by a panel of experts from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC, for its acronym in English), comes at a time when the country is registering a large increase in cases from covid – .
Only on Monday there were 89, 418 new infections, according to Johns Hopkins University, a number similar to the one that gave five months ago . Most cases are of the variant Delta , which is more contagious.
The situation has become particularly alarming in the states with low vaccination rates , mainly in the southeast of the country.
For regions with a high level of contagion, the CDC issued a new recommendation – which is not an order – for people to use a mask in closed spaces again even when they are vaccinated.
They also recommend that students wear face masks when returning to school.
The use of masks has It has been a controversial issue in the US and has been politicized since the beginning of the pandemic, so this new recommendation opens a new front for debate in the country with the most cases and deaths from covid- 19 of the world.
This Wednesday too It was learned that the White House Office of Management and Budget has told agencies that they must require the use of a face mask inside federal buildings for all employees and visitors, regardless of their vaccination status.
What does the new recommendation say?
While people vaccinated “have a lower risk” of contracting, becoming seriously ill or dying from covid – 19, the CDC indicates that there are new “concerning” studies that indicate that they can be transmitters of the virus, particularly of the Delta variant.
“ Fully vaccinated people can further reduce their risk of becoming infected with the Delta variant and tran transmit it to other people when wearing a mask in closed public environments in areas of substantial or high transmission in the community, ”says the new CDC guide. variant in a vaccinated person is similar to that of an unvaccinated person, although they do not run the same risk of becoming seriously ill or dying.
The use of a mask is also particularly recommended in all environments for people who are immunosuppressed or with conditions that aggravate the spread of covid – 19, such as diabetes, obesity, and heart disease.
Also for unvaccinated people and children, so the CDC now recommends its use in schools, which will restart face-to-face activities in the coming weeks.
“CDC recommends universal use of masks in enclosed spaces by all teachers, member s of school staff, students and visitors, regardless of their vaccination status, ”says the recommendation.
In a statement following the CDC announcement Tuesday, President Joe Biden acknowledged that for students “it’s uncomfortable,” but said that would allow them to be with their classmates “with the best protection available. ”
A question that divides
Last May, President Biden said the US had reached the “big day” of lifting the mask recommendation for fully vaccinated people.
But it is the state authorities that have the power to issue their rules on use mandatory or not of masks , so the policy is not general throughout the country.
Both Authorities such as citizens of certain states have criticized the “imposition” of guidelines related to the use of masks, social distancing and vaccination against covid – 19.
“I don’t think these mask recommendations are very helpful. There is little to be gained from fully vaccinated people wearing masks. And those who are not vaccinated are not going to wear masks, ”Jason Munshi-South, a Connecticut resident, told the BBC.
“The CDC’s decision to remove the mask in the first place was shortsighted and gave people the idea that this, the pandemic, was coming to an end . It is not. And that the CDC says that people should keep their masks on indoors is not a big surprise, “said Angelica Mata, from California.
For Agustín Cortez, from Texas,” it feels like we’re going back to the beginning of all this. ”
“ I really don’t want to wear masks indoors again , but Delta is definitely a concern, ”he said.
In conservative states, where vaccination rates are low and infections are on the rise, they have resisted ordering the mandatory use of masks.
Even Arkansas, Arizona, Georgia, Iowa, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas, Utah and Vermont have laws that prohibit schools require the use of masks.
The opposite has occurred in California and New York, where orders have been issued for its use.
Mandatory vaccination
President Biden told reporters on Tuesday that he is “considering” the possibility of req ueir the four million federal employees who are vaccinated to work.
The governor of New York, Andrew Cuomo, also announced this Wednesday that all health workers who are in contact with the people must be vaccinated by September.
The measure responds to the fact that, in recent weeks, around of the 97% of patients admitted to hospitals due to viruses in the US were not vaccinated.
Until now, only the 49% of US population is fully vaccinated, which is far from Biden’s goal that the 70% was vaccinated this month.
For Dr. Natasha Kathuria, the narrative that was created at the beginning of the pandemic, that the coronavirus usually causes deaths in older adults, it is a problem when it comes to convincing the younger ones.
“It is really hard to reverse that narrative for the people of 20, 30 Y 40 years, even for those of 50 years , which make up the majority of our new cases, ”Kathuria, who is an emergency room doctor, told the BBC.
“We hope that more attention will be paid to the fact that many of our covid patients are younger than ever.”
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