The CDC does not issue mask mandates. State governments do.

[Yavin4]

The CDC issues guidelines that the states can follow or not. There is no central authority mandating anything. TX and FLA removed all mask mandates and other restrictions back in early March, and we have not seen spikes in hospitalizations or deaths from their decisions. In fact, it's been just the opposite. We've seen 70% and 80% declines over the last 5 months in hospitalizations and deaths from their peak in January of this year.

The CDC's guidelines reflect the data that they're seeing here in the U.S. and in Israel. The vaccinated have a very low risk for getting a severe case of COVID-19 and they do not carry enough of a viral load to spread the disease.

The risk is now shifted from the state to mitigate to the individual. Everyone will have different challenges and need to consult their doctor, but for now, the vaccinated have sufficient enough protection and no longer need to wear masks.

[SergeStorms]

1. Thank you.

It's getting a little hot around here. People need to take a few deep breaths and remember who does what regarding this epidemic.

[Ms. Toad]

2. 0-12 year olds cannot effectively mitigate the risk alone

People who are unable to be vaccinated (or who cannot develop immunity) cannot effectively mitigate the risk alone. Lowering the infection rate so those who are unable to mitigate the risk alone is a community effort. Not an individual one.

And, unfortunately, the CDC announcement cut the legs out from under any local entity that pays more attention to the science of community safety, and behavior of humans who are COVIDiots, than the CDC does.

[Yavin4]

3. 0-12 year olds do not have the same risks as everyone else.

They don't have the same hospitalizations or deaths as the general population.