The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said earlier it is considering revising its mask guidance. This comes along with the increasing call of some experts for the easing of mask restrictions for outdoor activities.
According to NBC News, masks protect against COVID-19 infection but with over 84 million adults in the United States fully vaccinated against the virus, there are growing questions on whether wearing masks outdoors is still necessary.
The CDC's Dr. Rochelle Walensky said that they'll be looking at the question on outdoor masking, although in the context of the fact that there are still people dying of COVID-19. There are already moves to loosen restrictions in the states where mask guidance still takes effect.
The said report specified that North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper hopes to lift mask restrictions, including a mandate for the outdoor masks by the start of June.
Meanwhile, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio is considering an amendment to outdoor mask guidance, also by June, as reported by the New York Post. Connecticut, on the other hand, is lifting mask requirements outdoors in mid-May, along with transitioning mask rules from the mandate to guidance.
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A popular Texas supermarket chain announced it would not require customers to wear masks when the statewide mask mandate ended on March 10, 2021.
Increasing Calls to Ease Mask Restrictions
The Brown University School of Public Health Dean, Dr. Ashish Jha said, "We know that the virus largely spreads indoors," and there is a very slight spread outdoors, except in some very specific conditions
At this point in the pandemic, Dr. Jha added, with over half of the American population vaccinated, it is quite reasonable to begin thinking about peeling back outdoor mask directives.
Masks need to be used when in big outdoor events, he explained, where people are close together for an extended period like rallies and sports events in arenas.
However, passing a person on a street or going out for a run or walk without a mask is quite a low-risk situation. Necessitating all people walking down the street to wear masks, perhaps, is not needed, explained Dr. Jha.
Mask Mandate
In November 2020, a review paper entitled, "Outdoor Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and Other Respiratory Viruses: A Systematic Review," published in The Journal of Infectious Diseases showed that less than 10 percent of spread takes place outdoors and the chances of transmitting the virus indoors were about 19 times higher.
Nonetheless, experts at the Northwestern University contend that keeping masks on when outdoors, even after one has been vaccinated, is not just a social courtesy, but it helps model the behavior for the younger populations who cannot get the shot yet.
Based on the CDC's present mask guidance, masks may not be needed when one is outside or by himself, away from others, or with people living with him in the same household.
Health experts are now hoping the health agency will more clearly outline high-risk situations when masks are truly necessary.
Emory University Rollins School of Public Health epidemiology assistant professor Kristin Nelson said, while it was reasonable to include outdoor mask directives up until to date, she would like to see them be a part of the first restrictions lifted as more of the American population get vaccinated and case numbers begin to drop.
A similar report is shown on c spam's YouTube video below:
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