NEW: The @CDCgov has issued updated its guidance for Americans & local governments to guide decision-making in response to the pandemic.
The guidance is clear & comprehensive & easy to find. 1/
cdc.gov
The guidance is clear & comprehensive & easy to find. 1/
cdc.gov
One primary takeaway is when Americans should wear masks depending on the level of COVID in the community.
These are the off ramps & on-ramps Americans & government leaders have been hoping for.
The details are important. 2/
These are the off ramps & on-ramps Americans & government leaders have been hoping for.
The details are important. 2/
The CDC’s approach is to look at 3 factors for every county.
-New COVID19 hospital admissions over last 7 days
-Percentage of hospital beds occupied by COVID patients
-New cases per 100,000 people over last 7 days
Counties were then classified low, medium or high. 3/
-New COVID19 hospital admissions over last 7 days
-Percentage of hospital beds occupied by COVID patients
-New cases per 100,000 people over last 7 days
Counties were then classified low, medium or high. 3/
The CDC then laid out how Americans should consider various layers of protection depending on what your county looks like. 4/
If you are at high risk, if your county is at medium risk, the CDC recommends wearing a mask in public indoor settings at Medium levels.
Otherwise if you’re vaccinated & feeling well, wearing a mask is only needed if your county is rated High. 5/
Otherwise if you’re vaccinated & feeling well, wearing a mask is only needed if your county is rated High. 5/
Guidelines aren’t going to be foolproof. There is always a chance even at low levels of transmission of an infection. But the numbers suggest it is much less likely.
If you have your own reason to be more risk averse, masking could make sense in Medium counties. 6/
If you have your own reason to be more risk averse, masking could make sense in Medium counties. 6/
The fewer then people, the better the ventilation, the more recent your booster shot, the health of your family members, access to anti-vitals all could play a role in your thinking.
But the CDC is wise to not over-complicate the guidance with all this. 7/
But the CDC is wise to not over-complicate the guidance with all this. 7/
Where we stand based on this approach?
70% of the country now lives in areas where universal masking is not recommended. 30% where the level is low enough that masks aren’t recommended at all. 8/
70% of the country now lives in areas where universal masking is not recommended. 30% where the level is low enough that masks aren’t recommended at all. 8/
Whether we’re between waves or on a better path now, no one can say.
Either way, though, this is the type of information the public needs as a baseline. 9/
Either way, though, this is the type of information the public needs as a baseline. 9/
Think of this as one of many steps to ensure the medical resources, surveillance & variance scenario planning are in place.
While nothing the CDC does will be without criticism, this is a strong step forward for the country. end/
While nothing the CDC does will be without criticism, this is a strong step forward for the country. end/
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