CDC to recommend vaccinated people in certain areas resume wearing masks

(CNN) — The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is expected to update its guidelines connected Tuesday to urge vaccinated radical successful definite areas of the country to resume wearing masks due to the fact that of COVID-19.

People successful areas with precocious oregon important COVID-19 transmission should resume wearing masks, the CDC is expected to say, according to sources acquainted with the announcement. Nearly two-thirds of U.S. counties person precocious oregon important transmission of COVID-19, according to CDC data; 46% of counties person precocious transmission and 17% person important transmission.

CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky is expected to denote the determination astatine a 3 p.m. ET briefing connected Tuesday.

It was earlier reported that apical officials met connected Sunday nighttime to spell implicit the caller information and grounds regarding the transmissibility of the variant and breakthrough cases, according to a idiosyncratic acquainted with the meeting.

Two months ago, erstwhile the CDC updated disguise guidance saying astir who are afloat vaccinated could spell without masks indoors, the guidance moved truthful rapidly that medication officials were informed little than a time before. This time, the process is moving successful a much methodical mode arsenic they determine however to proceed.

White House officials person repeatedly said it would beryllium up to the CDC whether to alteration authoritative guidance and that they would travel the pb of wellness and aesculapian experts. The renewed medication discussions astir revisiting disguise recommendations revolve astir what messages connected masking the White House should offer, and what guidance the CDC should issue, sources acquainted with the substance person said.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the President’s main COVID-19 aesculapian advisor and the manager of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said connected Sunday that revising disguise guidance for vaccinated Americans was under “active consideration” and that helium was portion of the discussion. Fauci besides said the U.S. was “going successful the incorrect direction” arsenic the fig of COVID-19 cases continues to rise, peculiarly among unvaccinated Americans.

President Joe Biden said past week that 2 twelve members of his COVID effect squad were examining the surge successful cases and hospitalizations among the unvaccinated and determining whether caller disguise recommendations were necessary.

Officials successful respective places, including Los Angeles, person been forced to instrumentality to earlier requirements connected masks due to the fact that of surging COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations among Americans who person refused to get vaccinated.

The White House this week announced it was maintaining existing coronavirus question restrictions amid surging cases triggered by the Delta variant.

The Biden medication precocious extended non-essential question restrictions for the U.S. northern and southern borders until Aug. 21. The U.S. has been limiting non-essential question on some borders since the commencement of the pandemic and extending those restrictions connected a monthly basis.