Where do I need a mask? What to know as CDC eases recommendations for most Americans
More than 98% of Americans aren’t recommended to wear masks indoors in public based on COVID-19 conditions in the county they live as of March 10, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says.
But you’ll still need to mask up while using public transportation, including traveling on airplanes or by bus or train, according to the Transportation Security Administration which extended its mask wearing directive through at least April 18.
This comes as just 2% of Americans live in a county where levels of COVID-19 are considered high, the CDC says The agency now determines that level based on data on the amount of virus cases, hospital admissions and beds currently occupied by patients. For areas deemed high risk, masking indoors in public is recommended.
Additionally, for those showing COVID-19 symptoms, a positive test or those who’ve had a known exposure to someone who is sick, they “should wear a mask” no matter where they live, according to the CDC. The agency updates its guidance on virus levels by counties nationwide every Thursday.
‘“Dropping mask restrictions does not mean people should not wear masks in any situation — they should interpret these rules as ‘mask optional,’” Dr. Karen Jubanyik, an emergency care doctor and associate professor at Yale School of Medicine, previously told McClatchy News in a statement.
Nationwide, state mask mandates have eased in recent weeks as COVID-19 cases continue to drop. The CDC notes that masking “may be required in other places by local or state authorities.”
States such as Hawaii, Oregon and Washington still require face masks indoors in public, according to AARP. Hawaii’s Gov. David Ige announced the indoor statewide mask mandate will end March 25.
It’s officially been two years since a pandemic was declared by the World Health Organization as of March 11.
Where is it still recommended to wear a mask?
A total 31 states have at least one county colored orange showing a high COVID-19 level, according to the CDC’s map, where people are advised to wear a mask. This means 19 states have low or medium community level.
Just six states are colored entirely green, meaning they have low virus levels statewide. These states are Nevada, Delaware, New Jersey, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Hawaii.
To find the COVID-19 community level for your county, visit this map.
“This revised framework will be based on the COVID-19 community levels, risk of new variants, national data, and the latest science,” the TSA said in while announcing its extended mask rules.
In the U.S., more than 965,000 Americans have died to date, including about 7,000 since last week, according to Johns Hopkins University.
The omicron variant and its subvariants make up all positive cases in the U.S. the week ending March 5, according to the CDC.
The “stealth” omicron subvariant, BA.2, is becoming more prevalent in the United States and health experts are monitoring it, McClatchy News reported.
“All in all, I think we’re really gonna be okay and I don’t think BA.2 is gonna be problematic like omicron,” Dr. Thomas Russo, an infectious disease doctor and professor and chief of the Division of Infectious Diseases at the University of Buffalo, told McClatchy News.
This story was originally published March 11, 2022 at 11:31 AM with the headline "Where do I need a mask? What to know as CDC eases recommendations for most Americans."
.jpg)