As a special treat, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are allowing most Americans to take off their masks for a bit.
The public health agency published a COVID Community Levels tool on Friday. It measures severity rather than number of COVID cases. This change in measurement has resulted in the CDC putting about 70% of US counties under low to medium risk for COVID. The agency has stopped recommending that people use masks indoors in these areas.
The new guidelines do not change the requirement that masks be worn on ventilated planes, near empty buses or subways. In the 30% of countries where COVID-19 risks are high, the agency recommends that everyone, including children in schools K-12, keep their masks on.
However, the in-school masking recommendation has been lifted for children from low and moderate-risk countries. It is a departure from Rochelle Wilensky, CDC director. According to reports from, the director stated in closed session that she did not plan to alter the recommendation of the agency that schoolchildren continue to wear masks. ReasonRobby Soave is the author.
Walensky made it clear to reporters during a conference call today, that anyone in low- and medium-risk areas could still wear a mask if necessary.
She stated, “Anybody is welcome to wear a masque at any moment if they feel safe wearing a mask,” as reported by The Associated Press.
Those who were unsure if it was possible to take a decision independently of the CDC will find this comforting. The agency’s updated guidance won’t do much more than confirm what people have been doing.
65 percent have had at least two doses COVID-19 vaccinations, sufficient to “vaxxed” and be relaxed. Those not vaccinated weren’t likely to be the most ardent supporters of the CDC’s masking advice.
These new guidelines have the practical effect of giving local governments and school directors the support and encouragement they need in order to implement their plans to remove mandatory masking.