The Centers for Disease Control is poised to revise their recommendation regarding face masks starting Tuesday, back-tracking on previous guidelines and suggesting some vaccinated Americans should cover their mouths and noses if living in COVID hotspots.
The story first broke in The New York Times, referring to the reversal as “a sharp turnabout from the agency’s position since May” on Twitter.
Breaking News: The CDC will recommend that some vaccinated people resume wearing masks indoors under certain circumstances, in a sharp turnabout from the agency’s position since May. https://t.co/YDDcj0rZ3y
— The New York Times (@nytimes) July 27, 2021
“The change follows reports of rising breakthrough infections with the Delta variant of the virus in people who were fully immunized, and case surges in regions with low vaccination rates. The vaccines remain effective against the worst outcomes of infection with the virus, including those involving the Delta variant,” writes the Times.
“But the new guidance, the details of which are expected later Tuesday, would mark a sharp turnabout from the agency’s position since May that vaccinated people do not need to wear masks in most indoor spaces,” adds the newspaper.
The CDC is set to hold a press briefing at 3PM ET Tuesday.
“It’s a dynamic situation. It’s a work in progress. It evolves like in so many other areas of the pandemic,” Anthony Fauci told CNN. “You’ve got to look at the data.”
The news comes as several local governments — including California, New York City, and others — started mandating vaccines or weekly testing for most public employees.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
