The COVID-19 Delta variant is becoming dominant in the United States. It was just two months ago when the CDC said that fully vaccinated people do not need face masks. But now it seems that the tables have turned. People do need to wear face masks and the government is urging them to do so.
The CDC Urges People to Continue Wearing Face Masks Amid COVID-19 Delta Variant Surge
In a recent statement, the CDC has reversed its statement amid rising COVID-19 Delta variant cases in the United States. Just two months ago, the top US health agency said that fully vaccinated people do not require face masks. Neither do they need to wear it indoors, nor outdoors. However, now they are urging people to cover their faces even though they are vaccinated. Besides that, those in high-risk areas should remain extra cautious.
The New CDC Guidelines
On May 13, 2021, the CDC issued guidelines regarding COVID-19 protocols in the United States. It said that those who have received both the doses of Moderna or Pfizer jabs need not wear face masks. Moreover, they can roam around without covering their faces. But, in its recent guidelines, the CDC highlighted the fast-spreading COVID-19 Delta variant in the country. It is said that the variant is on the verge of becoming the dominant one in the US. Henceforth, people should cover their faces if they are in public, even though they are vaccinated.
Why did they Ask People Not to Wear Masks in the First Place?
A few months ago, the COVID-19 Alpha variant was dominant in the United States. This variant is not that transmissible and doesn’t lead to severe illness. But that’s not the case with the COVID-19 Delta variant. Unlike Alpha, this spreads even faster and can cause severe illness. Therefore, during that time when the Alpha variant was dominant, the CDC asked fully vaccinated people not to wear masks. But now as the cases are rising, they have urged the people to do so.
Vaccinations are Quite Important in Combating the COVID-19 Delta Variant
Currently, in the United States, unvaccinated people are getting infected very easily. Most of the new cases in the hospitals are of those people who are yet to receive the vaccine. On the other hand, most of them are getting infected with the COVID-19 Delta variant.
The CDC has called the current surge in the daily infections a “pandemic of the unvaccinated”. Moreover, President Joe Biden has asked the people to strictly follow the guidelines. Besides that, he said that he will definitely follow the guidelines if he travels to any of these areas. However, Donald Trump and other Republicans have opposed this new decision of wearing masks.
