CDC's new approach to covid means most Americans can go without masks

[WhiskeyGrinder]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2022/02/25/cdc-mask-guidance-changed-metrics/

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention eased mask recommendations for the vast majority of the country Friday under a new framework to monitor the coronavirus that immediately affects about 70 percent of Americans — a process that state and local officials had already begun amid demands for a return to normalcy.

The new guidelines, which took effect Friday, reflect the administration’s view that the United States has entered a different, potentially less dangerous phase of the pandemic. The change follows a relaxation of restrictions by most Democratic governors responding to nosediving case counts and public pressure, and well after most Republican governors. CDC officials said the shift reflects the reality that after more than two years of living with the virus, most communities have greater protection against severe disease because of widespread immunity gained from both vaccinations and infections, as well as the increased availability of treatments, testing and higher-quality masks.

(snip)

CDC Director Rochelle Walensky said the new guidelines, which classify the country into low, medium and high levels of disease, provide individuals with an understanding of what precautions they should consider based on the level of disease in their community, their underlying risk, and their own risk tolerance.

(snip)
Under the approach, many parts of the country that were previously considered to have high or substantial levels of the virus are now reclassified as having low to medium levels of covid-19 disease. Consumers can find out whether they face low, medium or high disease levels in their area by checking a new “county check tool” online at CDC.gov or by calling 800-232-4636.

That's one way to solve it, I suppose.

[Blues Heron]

1. Caving to the anti mask trolls

Its like leaving a campfire smoldering because you are tired of throwing water on it even though smoke is still coming out. Let's make sure this thing is over before letting down our guard. We shouldn't be reclassifying the spread because of the mask whiners

[Dave in VA]

2. Here's a link

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/your-health/covid-by-county.html

[CrackityJones75]

3. Our city removed masks for schools this week

Our city removed masks for schools this week. Now 11 of our schools are on the outbreak list.

[viva la]

4. Well, I'm going to continue wearing a mask

My gbabies aren't yet old enough for a vax.

[tavernier]

7. Me too.

Since I haven’t had a cold in two years, I feel stronger and more energetic than I have in a long time. Seasonal colds and flu leave me run down. I will probably always wear a mask in grocery stores especially around the holidays. I remember in 1999 I was avoiding getting a cold because my grandson was getting married on New Year’s Eve. Right around Christmas time I was in Walmart and as I was checking out, the cashier who was helping me put something heavy in the cart coughed right in my face. She apologized profusely saying that she had meant to keep it in but wasn’t able to. A few days later there I was with a nasty cold, red nose, runny eyes, and only a few days left before I was to be in many pictures in the family wedding of the century, 300 guests etc. I learned from that experience and from now on a mask will always be in my purse or pocket.

[Meowmee]

5. More garbage from cdc and W 👎🏻

[madville]

6. Yep, I work for a blue city government

In a blue county, starting Monday masks are optional everywhere, indoors, riding in a vehicle with someone, etc. With these newer highly transmissible variants, the data is showing masks less than 95-type aren’t very effective, most people were just wearing simple cloth masks or the loose blue medical masks anyway.

This article references a study that shows that surgical masks only reduced spread by 11 percent and cloth masks by 5 percent. It’s something but I would guess the CDC is reviewing the same kinds of data in determining their guidance.

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/five-important-things-you-should-know-about-covid-and-masks-now-180979500/

[LetMyPeopleVote]

8. I plan on still wearing my mask

[Ms. Toad]

9. Sounds like May 2021 all over againg. Hope we're ready for a repeat of July-January! n/t

[BlackSkimmer]

10. Well, I'll guess we'll see.

I’m still wearing mine and pleasantly surprised to see many in my small red town doing the same.