Posted on 02/24/2022 8:13:10 PM PST by lightman
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) is reportedly about to get on board with what several states and cities throughout the country have already done, including the most liberal ones, and loosen its mask guidelines. Zeke Miller of the Associated Press and Caitlin Owens of Axios were among the first to report on the news, citing those close with the matter, and indicating that it is expected to come as early as Friday. Live updates from The New York Times also confirmed as much, though noted "two officials who spoke to The Times did not confirm the timing."
As Miller wrote:
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Friday will announce a change to the metrics it uses to determine whether to recommend face coverings, shifting from looking at COVID-19 case counts to a more holistic view of risk from the coronavirus to a community. Under current guidelines, masks are recommended for people residing in communities of substantial or high transmission — roughly 95% of U.S. counties, according to the latest data.
The new metrics will still consider caseloads, but also take into account hospitalizations and local hospital capacity, which have been markedly improved during the emergence of the omicron variant. That strain is highly transmissible, but indications are that it is less severe than earlier strains, particularly for people who are fully vaccinated and boosted. Under the new guidelines, the vast majority of Americans will no longer live in areas where indoor masking in public is recommended, based on current data.
"The new benchmarks will instead tie masking recommendations to a combination of a community's level of cases, hospitalizations and hospital capacity, the source said," Owens also reported.
The reports do not much more specific information, as this news is merely a preview. How the guidelines will affect school children is also barely mentioned. "Some [U.S. states] have eliminated the mandates entirely, while others have kept mask-wearing requirements in place for schools and medical facilities," Miller wrote.
When it comes to how even liberal states are dropping their mask mandates or at least announcing dates to plan to do so, as they've woken up to the political science, Owens offers a sort of bottom-line there:
Yes, but: The new guidance may not have much of a practical impact for many Americans.
Many cities and states have already lifted their mask mandates as Omicron subsides — and plenty more haven't had a mask mandate for a long time, if ever.
According to Education Week, as of February 23, 11 states plus Washington, D.C. are listed as having "mask requirement in effect" at schools.
The United States remains one of just a handful of western nations that require children to wear masks at school, who are among the least vulnerable when it comes to contracting a serious case of the Wuhan coronavirus. Further, masks may also harm the development of children, especially those with special needs. Back in November, as I covered, the United States was one of seven western nations with such mandates.
Otherwise: Great news.
Omicron killed the “community spread” metric and the delusion of “Zero Covid” as an attainable goal.
That “split infinitive” rule is informed by Latin grammar rules. Doesn’t necessarily apply in English, which is one Frankenstein of a language.
Does anyone with a working brain still care what the CDC says?
CDC behind the 8-ball again?
Just in time for Brandon’s SOTU Address.
“The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) is reportedly about to get on board with what several states and cities throughout the country have already done”
apparently, CDC’s “science” finally aligned with the political science ...
Great news, and irrelevant news. In my part of the world no one has worn a mask for months. The pandemic is long over and the CDC is apparently the last to figure it out.
Too late millions are addicted to them now i see them everywhere
Aye, maskerbation is habit-forming.
Can’t we all just tell the CDC to “go put a sock in it” ?
Walking in a grocery store with signs stating “Masks Required”, where only employees and perhaps less than 5% of the shoppers wearing masks, while listening to random PSA on the overhead speakers touting the mask requirements. Makes you wonder what would happen if there were a real disease crisis.
Even the natural food grocery store has half their employees wearing chin warmers. It is cold here in Colorado, so it’s all good.
In California counties north and east of Gay Frisco are psychotic re businesses with masks or no masks.
Some small businesses seen to be adapting faster and better to no masks or your option to wear or not.
Yesterday, I went to Home Depot to pickup an order and every employee was wearing a mask, inside or outside. About half the customers were wearing masks.
The day before, I took my wife to a hair salon for an appointment. The 3 women owners are not wearing masks, nor is their receptionist. Customers can wear a mask or not, their choice. Most customers had zero problems with others being unmasked and most took off their masks soon after entering the salon. One woman kept her mask on because she was 70. I told her that my wife, and I were over 80 and wearing a mask impaired our breathing and stamina. She just looked at me and kept her mask on.
Our local small grocery chain allows customers to mask or not and and some employees were not wearing masks. However, they supposedly enforced the stay 6’ apart B$ with new floor markers by their checkout stands.
The 6' non-science nonsense disappeared from almost every Pennsylvania store six months ago---at the height of the "dreaded, deadly" Delta variant.
Why would you want to go on an airplane?
I simply don't know what we would do without those wise mavens in the CDC.
Hospital capacity? Rigged. Look at the numbers of open positions posted by any clinic or hospital you use.
Obamas cms flu vax mandate caused a wave of retirements, covid vax even more.
Most wise people are looking at alternative health care. You know, just like the ruling class and elites have.
Get estabished now. There are two in knoxville TN.. we use knox wellness for primary care.
Unfortunately, there are no alternatives to the hospital, but you can shop around using their current Covid policies. We did that also.
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