CDC wants to give people a break from wearing masks!

[Tomconroy]

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is reviewing its mask guidance, shifting its focus to Covid hospitalizations as a key measure of the severity of the outbreak and future guide for determining whether health safety protocols need to be tightened, according to the agency’s director, Dr. Rochelle Walensky.

“We must consider hospital capacity as an additional important barometer,” Walensky told the public during a White House Covid update Wednesday. “We want to give people a break from things like mask-wearing when these metrics are better, and then have the ability to reach for them again should things worsen,” she said.


The CDC currently recommends that people wear masks in indoor public places regardless of their vaccination status if they live in an area with high viral transmission. Nearly every county in the U.S. has high transmission right now, according to CDC data. People are required by federal law to wear masks on planes, buses, trains and other forms of public transportation.

However, states have started easing public health measures as new infections from the omicron variant rapidly decline from their peak levels in January. New York and California have dropped mask mandates for businesses, while New Jersey has also gotten rid of its mask requirement for schools.

https://www.cnbc.com/2022/02/16/cdc-wants-to-give-people-a-break-from-wearing-masks-as-pandemic-improves-director-says.html

They are always several weeks behind Dr. Jha's advice!

[lagomorph777]

1. I won't be taking a break any time soon.

[unblock]

6. Maybe the virus will take a break and stop making us sick for a while

[hlthe2b]

14. People think when mask mandates are discontinued they don't have to ANYWHERE...

I am so damned over idiots thinking they can come into a hospital ER (and other similar places) without one--that an end to mandates means they don't have to wear one anywhere.

[SheltieLover]

16. And BA.2 incoming...

Wth do they keep doing this?

[lagomorph777]

17. Fucking insane.

[SheltieLover]

18. Yup.

36 deaths today in my county. "Mild" omicron my ass! 🤬

Now case counts dropping, so they drop mask recs.

How many fking times are they going to do this?

Can they not learn from past mistakes?

[Demsrule86]

20. Where I live the unvaccinated are dying...not those who were vaccinated...and they will not mask

anyway...you can't save those who don't want to be saved.

[SheltieLover]

23. Likely same here.

Lots os maskholes.

Blackburn was voted in so IQ not too high here. 😓

[Demsrule86]

36. Like I said, I feel sorry for those dying needlessly. It is a human tragedy born of tribalism and

the failure to understand the Covid is not political but a dangerous virus.

[SheltieLover]

44. I feel badly for those the maskholes infect

And those who cannot get vaxes.

[kysrsoze]

24. Correct, and we all know deaths lag case loads. I'm hoping this is a last wave of deaths as well.

But you're exactly right - it is the unvaxxed who are dying.

[Demsrule86]

34. I feel very sorry for them. I believe they were lied to and the tribalism bullshit lead them to

throw away common sense and treat covid politically instead of recognizing the dangers. I have several members of my own family who got Covid ...and one was pregnant. Everyone recovered but I was terribly worried. There is not much we can do to stop this foolishness.

[Demsrule86]

37. I hope this is the case also...the last wave of deaths...

[KS Toronado]

2. Wish they'd tell everybody to mask up everywhere

until we beat this virus.

[Salviati]

3. Right. Masks are the least intrusive intervention we have.

They should be the first ones on, and last ones off.

We are still at a level of new cases per day that is essentially the same as the peak of the Delta wave. We're doing a lot better than we were three weeks ago, but it's still too soon to stop the mask mandates. The last thing we want is for the rapidly dropping case numbers to stall out.

[SoonerPride]

4. Beat the virus? What does that even mean?

I have beaten the virus.

I have been vaccinated and boosted.

I win.

If you mean zero cases and zero transmission, well that is never going to happen.

Ever.

The virus is with us forever now.

[kysrsoze]

22. Agree - we've done our part, and those who don't want to vax won't mask anyway.

Yes, there are SOME immuno-compromised people (I know one personally), but cases are dropping very rapidly and the virus is never going away for good. I can understand some people are going to be very hesitant to stop masking. It will probably be a while before I stop taking hand sanitizer everywhere I go.

A number of friends of mine are arriving at the same attitude about it. If people want to continue to mask, that's great. I do think we're to a point of personal choice on the masks. That said, I'm all for vaccine passports - screw those who don't want to get vaxxed.

[PSPS]

33. "a point of personal choice on the masks"

Masks are primarily to protect others. So it's your personal choice to jeopardize others? Sweet!

[SoonerPride]

51. If they are vaccinated then they are already protected.

[beaglelover]

54. Yep.

[uponit7771]

78. +1

[ProfessorGAC]

73. Not Really Accurate

Several studies have refuted the notion that masks don't protect the wearer.
Since the idea that no protection is provided runs contrary to the laws of physics, we shouldn't be surprised the studies refuted it.
Anybody that has ever done studies on either aerosolization or two phase filtration (both for me) knew that was inaccurate from the first moment it was suggested.

[PSPS]

35. "that is never going to happen"

Certainly not with your attitude. Thank heavens such a defeatist mindset didn't exist 60 years ago or we'd still have polio wards.

[SoonerPride]

49. The vaccine works

End of story.

[tritsofme]

66. Apples and oranges. Polio is not a respiratory disease.

It became clear long ago that it will be no more eradicated than flu or the common cold. This isn’t a defeatist attitude, it is just reality.

[Igel]

75. It was reality two years ago.

When a third (more or less) of cases were reported to be asymptomatic, eradication became impossible barring frequent testing of the entire population with mandatory, enforced, quarantining.

Since we couldn't have that quantity of tests, and scant legal justification for forced quarantining at gunpoint ...

And since that's not hardly likely in a lot of places or countries ... if only because boondock villages are very common worldwide ...

It's just reality. It was going to become endemic--an obvious conclusion in 2/2020. The only remaining question is whether it will be really lethal and endemic or flu-like lethal and endemic or mild-cold-like 'lethal' and endemic. And whether people would accept the science in 2020 or have to accept it two years later.

Full disclosure: My mother died of an respiratory ailment. Whether this was just the flu or something really mild + the respiratory incapacity that comes with advanced dementia, can't say. The doctor said "respiratory illness" ... but that could mean either.

[beaglelover]

52. Agree 100%. I've followed the rules and gotten fully vaxed and boosted.

If others did not then they can continue to wear masks, socially distance, etc.

I'm moving on with my life as if COVID is over.

[róisín_dubh]

76. Thank you.

Totally agree.
I’ll wear a mask where I have to and where it’s prudent to do so.
But anyone thinking we’re going to get to Covid 0 is delusional.

[uponit7771]

77. +1, the antivaxers need to do their part

[unblock]

9. Yeah the recommendation should emphasize that masks are always beneficial

They should note that wearing a mask when out in public is still a good idea even if they determine a mandate isn't necessary.

[zaj]

5. Social psychology matters. And this tells me, that...

... they are responding to the widespread burn-out, not just doing what the GOP did, and blindly funneling misinformation, undermining science, and, well... killing people for political power.

It's too bad that disinformation propaganda is so powerful, but it is our reality.

[PSPS]

32. "they are responding to the widespread burn-out"

I would rather the CDC to be responding to the virus.

[zaj]

40. They are...

Getting people to behave in a specified way is hugely determined by the community culture. Under the easiest of conditions, where the citizens universally trust ran other their government, it's easier to just put out directives and watch them all follow.

We live in a world where 40% of the population is brainwashed to be trolls who are reflexively against doing the right thing.

That effects trust in the institution, and we need to rebuildv trust so that when there is a new variant, and we need to respond strongly again, there is more goodwill in the community.

If it were Trump saying this, I'd be with you.

[SoonerPride]

7. Good.

It is time to return to normalcy for those who have been vaccinated and boosted.

[USALiberal]

10. Lol!

[tritsofme]

42. Not sure what is so funny?

How long should extraordinary mitigations to protect the unvaccinated from themselves persist, when they are themselves most likely to flout them?

I think that time is over.

[USALiberal]

57. I get it you're an anti-masker. nt

[tritsofme]

63. Is Illinois Governor Pritzker an "anti-masker"?

I’m whatever he is.

[PSPS]

29. I hope you cc'd the virus. It may not "be on the same page" as you are.

[SoonerPride]

53. I am vaccinated and no longer at risk for hospitalization or death.

The science is clear on that.

[dchill]

8. CDC knuckles under to anti-maskers.

Sorry, but that's how I see it.

[PSPS]

28. Yup. They and blue-state governors too. Really sad but politics is driving now.

[Tomconroy]

11. Just out to lunch here in CT. During January everybody

masked up and stayed home. Omicron is pretty much over here. Now the place was packed (Nice little upscale Italian place called Bellini's) with people my age and older. No masks even for the wait staff. With a new threat we will mask up again.

[beaglelover]

55. Sounds very nice! I can't wait to see my waiter and waitresses' lovely faces again!

They still have to mask up even though the patrons do not. Makes no sense at all! LOL!

[Mr.Bill]

12. Mask mandates and the lifting of them

should be tied to vaccination rates. Let's hang this on the people that are hindering the eradication of these viruses.

[Zeitghost]

47. Eradication

Is not and never was a possibility.

[Mr.Bill]

72. You know what I mean.

As close to it as possible.

[uponit7771]

79. +1, 95% of 16 and over are vaxed with at least one shot

https://dig.abclocal.go.com/ccg/interactives/us-vaccine-tracker/vax_us_cdc.html

About 95.7% of the U.S. population over 16 has gotten at least one dose, and about 81.2% of those over 16 are fully vaccinated. About 74.6% of the adult population is fully vaccinated.

[Mr.Bill]

82. In my county we've been stuck at 60-62%

fully vaxed for a while. At least mask use had been very good, although not enforced by anyone except the retail stores themselves.

[WillUSAF]

13. Return to normalcy finally

At this point moving forward, without another major variant, it should be an individuals choice.

The only problem now is that if I go into an establishment without a mask people might think that I'm a Republican (I live in Trump-world)

[PSPS]

27. "it should be an individuals choice"

I see. So, my health is now captive to your "individual's choice?" Your wearing a mask is primarily to protect those around you.

[beaglelover]

56. Protect yourself. Get vaccinated.

[helpisontheway]

15. Yeah high or low transmission rate and I'm still wearing my mask

I remember what happened when they said for vaccinated people to stop wearing masks last spring. Unvaccinated stopped wearing their masks and everything went to hell. I will wear my high quality mask and not pay any attention to them. Almost wanted to punch a guy in the throat (well not literally but what he did pissed me off) today that gave me a dirty look for wearing a mask. He said something to his buddy and then started coughing really loud (without a mask). Then he laughed about it. That pisses me off. If you don’t want to wear a mask then you do you but don’t mock me for wearing one. I’m high risk so I must be careful. I don’t bother the other maskless people. I just mind my own business. The only concern I have now is that my son’s college might eliminate the indoor (and bus) mask mandates. They have 22,000 students on campus (lots of parties,frat,etc) so that would be a nightmare.

[Demsrule86]

19. I don't want to get flu or Covid...so I wear a mask. One thing this Pandemic showed is that flu

is transmitted mostly in the air...which is why I didn't get it. Even with a flu shot I usually get flu and colds...but not the last two years. I was wearing a mask so I will continue to do so.

[brer cat]

21. I'm going to continue mask wearing and social distancing.

This isn't over and I'm going to do my part not to get it or pass it on.

[PSPS]

25. "We want to give people a break" means "mid-terms are coming up, we must molly coddle the MAGA."

[Ace Rothstein]

30. A lot of Democratic voters are ready for mask mandates to end.

[PSPS]

38. I think all "democratic voters" are ready for mask mandates to end.

But ending them prematurely, especially merely for political purposes, is foolish and will cause unnecessary suffering and death.

[Ace Rothstein]

41. Many countries are ending their mandates

COVID isn't going anywhere and there will never be a 'good' time to end the mandates.

[Ace Rothstein]

26. Hopefully they drop the useless testing rule when traveling home from abroad.

[BlackSkimmer]

31. The CDC has bungled this from the beginning.

I pay no attention to that agency.

[Meowmee]

61. This

NYT covid deaths daily average 2,328.

[leftstreet]

67. +1

They should be held accountable for lifting the mask mandate back in May 2021, when they knew Delta was in the US and they knew vaccines didn't prevent transmission.

It's been a shitshow since then

[kskiska]

39. The free masks were just made available here a few days ago.

[BlackSkimmer]

45. Same here, hilarious.

Day late, and a dollar short.

[Blues Heron]

43. masks are here to stay

as long as this shit keeps circulating. Sure it pulses up and down, but as long as its out there, masks are staying on.

[beaglelover]

58. Feel free to keep your mask on. Your choice. It should no longer be mandated for everyone though.

[Blues Heron]

59. yeah good idea - lets spread the virus and create more variants

[beaglelover]

62. We'll see I guess. But you'll have your mask on so you'll be safe!

[Ace Rothstein]

65. COVID and variants are here to stay.

You can't expect people to wear masks forever, it just isn't going to happen.

[ChazII]

46. Drove my friend to get

his colonoscopy yesterday. The staff was wearing masks and a sign on the door still required masks.

[Vinca]

48. That's nice. Has Covid weighed in on how it feels? Our tiny town has 15 active cases that are

known. Since most people don't test and those who might and get a positive result won't tell the state, I imagine that's a huge under count. In any case, that's a higher number than the time when vaccines weren't available and some of the peaks after that. I'll be wearing my mask.

[uponit7771]

81. 85% of Americans 12 and older have had at least one shot, its time now to pull back

https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#vaccinations_vacc-total-admin-rate-total

[beaglelover]

50. L.A. County may be lifting the indoor mask mandate a month earlier than planned.

After the crypt keeper Health Director, Barbara Ferrer, attended the Super Bowl where mostly everyone ignored the mask mandate! Ms. Ferrer was one of the few donning a mask at the Super Bowl. But she didn't have a good answer when confronted by 2 County Board supervisors about the need to continue the mask mandate. So hopefully, we're looking at ending the indoor mask mandate in about a month here in L.A. County!

[Zeitghost]

60. It's time

Like many, I'm fully vaccinated and have fully recovered from Omicron. I'm not sure what good a mask would do at this point.

[Sympthsical]

70. Quadruple immunity represent!

Three shots and natural immunity from Omicron. I'm good.

I'll probably still mask in crowded places. Eh, we'll see how it feels.

But my fear of contracting any kind of serious case is pretty much zero at this point. Went to a restaurant on V-day and didn't even think of it.

[JanMichael]

64. That worked SO well last May didn't it? How about everyone cool their jets for a while.

You know, do what works and keep masked in public spaces, and see what happens next. Maybe, hopefully, no new or improved variants jump out. But if one does we won't have to try to put the toothpaste back in the tube like last May.

Then Omicron came around and it was - "oh it is milder" - sure but way more contagious so hospitalizations exceeded Delta and Alpha peaks.

Fool us once, shame on us, fool us twice?

[Meowmee]

68. Idiots again

No surprise here … logical people will have permanent whiplash from this non stop farce.

[DVRacer]

69. My take is

I have all my shots and anyone that wants one is capable of getting theirs. I’m done trying to protect others from themselves at this point. The science is pretty clear vaccines and boosters work. I see people take “dirty” masks out of pockets and purses to go into a restaurant sit down and put it back in their hiding place. The political fallout of not pulling back on restrictions is getting more and more. The Super Bowl was kinda the defining moment almost nobody wore a mask and the nation was watching. Now if you decide personally for you that you want to wear one knock yourself out.

[beaglelover]

71. Exactly correct!

[uponit7771]

80. +1

[Shanti Shanti Shanti]

74. Sorry to say, the CDC is not my first line source for covid updates anymore, too wobbly