CDC encourages people to wear masks to help prevent spread of Covid, flu and RSV over the holidays

[pstokely]

Source: CNBC

The CDC director said the agency is considering expanding its system of Covid community levels to take into account other respiratory viruses such as the flu. The system is the basis for when CDC advises the public to wear masks. But Walensky encouraged people to take proactive action.

“One need not wait on CDC action in order to put a mask on,” Walensky said. “We would encourage all of those preventive measures — hand washing, staying home when you’re sick, masking, increased ventilation — during respiratory virus season, but especially in areas of high Covid-19 community levels.”

About 5% of the U.S. population lives in counties where the CDC is officially recommending masks due to high Covid levels. The CDC continues to recommend masking for anyone travelling by plane, train, bus or other forms of public transportation, Walensky said.

People with weak immune systems and those who otherwise face a heightened risk of severe disease should also consider wearing a mask, the CDC director said.

Read more: https://www.cnbc.com/2022/12/05/cdc-encourages-people-to-wear-masks-to-prevent-spread-of-covid-flu-rsv.html

[forgotmylogin]

1. I agree.

I haven't stopped masking in public and just got over a mild bout of COVID.

[FirstLight]

2. and nobody will...

Why does this headline/article feel like it's probably buried on page 6 or in the Friday night News Dump?

Stay safe...get boosted... and, like me, AVOID CROWDS!

I just cancelled a trip to the Bay Area. For multiple reasons, but also cuz CA has a high RSV and hospitalization rate again and I'm not playing. I don't need to go catch something and bring it back in time to share it with my family and son returning for C-Mas.

NOPE.

Also got an invite to a couple gatherings locally. Not happening.
You know, I never realized how anti-social I was until I have Covid as an excuse

[riversedge]

30. I do when I go into stores but usually am the only one.

[electric_blue68]

3. I don't need any encouragement...I have been and am there.

Will be continuing to be about 85% below my pre-covid out and about activites, masking, and distancing.
It makes me occasionally really sad bc I really like being out on the streets of NYC as long as it's not more than mildly crowded. I get energy from it.

I do have long standing serious creative hobbies, love reading, being on line for fun, learning, connecting w my people, etc. So it's quite interesting, and edifying to various degrees.

I don't live near a big or medium park like I have in the past so I have to use public transit the get to one. Thus more potential covid exposure. Sigh.

[Orrex]

4. If a preventative measure requires ANY effort by the individual...

it will be sidelined and downplayed and derided and, generally, ignored.

Funny how that works, right? More and more the prevailing sentiment is that the only possible course that has any validity is vaccination. "Lockdowns" don't work, we're told. Masks are of minimal value, we're told. Isolation and avoiding crowds is a fool's venture, we're told.

But vaccinations, that require no actual effort by the individual and which cause no inconvenience or alteration of behavior? Why, they're the only thing that can help beat covid.


I haven't gone unmasked into any business or any customer's home since Feb 2020, and I see no reason to change that practice any time soon.

[IronLionZion]

7. Masks are like a lockdown for your face

You don't see much support for lockdowns these days, do you? It was difficult enough when COVID was new back in 2020 and there weren't enough masks or information about the virus let alone vaccines.

[Orrex]

8. We never had a lockdown

We had a partial shutdown, and you're right that people lost their minds about it. Even now it remains a talking point among ignorant Reichwing assholes: "Fire the Lockdown Liberals," they say.

Bottom line is this: people are selfish above all else, and as a group they will resist any effort toward the common good unless it first and foremost benefits them in some immediate, tangible way.

[IronLionZion]

18. That ship has sailed long ago

You're not going to get lockdowns. You can stay home if you want. Otherwise, masks and vaccines are the options available to those who go out.

Be safe

[Orrex]

19. Of course, that's what a certain side of the aisle has been saying all along

And the further problem is when people don’t wear masks and don’t get vaccinated, which is a distressingly large chunk of the population.

And I’m not particularly worried about myself, so “stay home if you want” really just comes across as a way to tell someone to keep their different view to themselves.

Since I don’t prioritize my personal gratification over others’ health, I’m concerned about the impact upon people who can’t be vaccinated, or who are immune compromised, or whose other circumstances make them vulnerable. These are the people who, as a group, society has declared not to matter, as long as we can get our Starbucks and pack into bars to breathe in each other’s face.

[we can do it]

31. Please

[IronLionZion]

32. Yes???

[summer_in_TX]

5. Just recovering from my first case of COVID.

I attribute my mild symptoms to the fact that I've had the two-shot series and two boosters (including a bivalent one). Thanksgiving was the sources, I'm pretty sure. Including ourselves, there were 33 folks at our house from four generations of our family. Fourteen of them were ages 2 to 14.

I hadn't heard of any local cases and suddenly I know of four within a group of 30, so it's spreading rapidly.

[IronLionZion]

6. Good advice

since plenty of people out there will be sick, unmasked, and spreading viruses around. Cases always go up around the holidays.

[SergeStorms]

9. They don't have to tell me.

I turned down a free trip to the Cotton Bowl on New Years Day. The game is in the Dallas Cowboys' home stadium, AT&T Stadium in Arlington, TX. It's enclosed and holds 80,000 people. Talk about a super-spreader event!

I wear an N-95 mask whenever I'm in public places. I'm fully vaccinated and boostered, but I don't want to take a chance on suffocating to death in a hospital somewhere.

Now if everyone felt that way the stupid virus could be eradicated in this country. Yeah, like that will ever happen.

[Tree Lady]

10. I am heading to Texas in a few days

First plane flight since all this and we will be in public for 5 days going all over. Freaks me out. I told my daughters I am visiting mom will be wearing mask even if I am only one.

My daughter was like I had to start living my life again mom and stop being so fearful. She did have all her shots and wore a mask for years, longer than most Texans. I told her well you are younger than me and I don't want a cold or flu for Christmas and definitely not covid!

[SunSeeker]

12. My husband and I were on a 6 hour flight in November, and we wore N95 masks the whole time.

Nobody else wore masks, not even the flight attendants. The 6 hour flight back was completely sold out and had coughers and screaming babies. But we just kept our masks on (on the plane and in the airport) and neither of us got sick.

We're vaxed & boosted, including with the bivalent booster.

If you mask up with a good KN95 or an N95 mask, you should be fine.

[Skittles]

15. it IS posslible to live your life while masked

ya know?

[area51]

20. +1 n/t

[AllyCat]

11. My meeting tonight, 2/14 wearing masks.

One had cold symptoms, other was me and I worked all weekend with sick people (flu mostly). I’ve been wearing a mask in public again for the past 2 weeks.

[BigmanPigman]

13. I was invited to my first party in 3 years

and I want to go but I have always worn an N95 mask in public. Do I risk it? The mayor of my city will be there and I want to go since this is an old friend I met in 1992 and he is so much fun and has great parties and is now involved with the Dem party's local activities. I am an individualist and enjoy being myself (artsy-type) and don't care if I look different with a mask on but how do you eat and drink anything in an indoor party without taking your mask off? I don't even know how to manage that task since I haven't had to. I have been self isolating for 3 years and am nervous.

[beaglelover]

26. Just don't eat or drink at the party. Problem solved.

[Skittles]

14. CDC encourages people to stop being assholes

imagine that

[Ford_Prefect]

16. "Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more!"

Here we go again...“Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water...”

And just in time for the holidays too!

[BumRushDaShow]

17. I was at the post office, a 711, and a supermarket yesterday

and was glad to see more masks being worn again - at least among those who are most vulnerable. I go in no public indoor facility without my N95.

[republianmushroom]

21. LIKE

[RussBLib]

22. I never stopped wearing a mask

Same with the wife, but it's amazing, shocking, and disappointing to see so many not wearing them any longer, as if all is well in La-La Land.

[Mz Pip]

23. I ordered some more

We’re going to NYC for Christmas. Didn’t make it last year, so am really looking forward to our trip.

I’ve been back and for 4 times over the past year. I wear a mask. I’ve managed to avoid covid so far. Hope i stay lucky.

[beaglelover]

25. If you feel safer in a mask, feel free to wear one.

No one is stopping you. Just don't force it on the rest of us. We can do our own risk assessment, thank you very much.

[pstokely]

27. will/do you wear one when asked?

but I assume that's been a while

[beaglelover]

29. Of course. I wear a mask where it is required in L.A. county. Of the places I go, this is mainly

doctor's offices when I am there for a physical or blood draw. Other than that, I'm not sure the last time I wore a mask when out and about. I'm flying to Boston next week and will more than likely wear a mask on the plane since it is cold/flu season. I'm fully vaxed and boosted including flu, but you know, these vacs are a bit leaky.

[LakeArenal]

28. Had a friend recently tested positive after a plane flight.

So, it’s still out there. I don’t understand the snark either way. Mask if required. Otherwise wear one or not. Japan has been wearing masks for flu seasons for years. They don’t snark at each other about it.