CDC Director, Dr. Rochelle Walensky, Warns Against Dropping Mask Mandates

Dr. Rochelle Walensky, head of the CDC is standing by the agencies mask guidelines and emphasizing that now is not the time to change recommendations or loosen restrictions aimed at preventing the Coronavirus. Walensky said that the CDC “still recommends that all schools encourage students to wear well-fitting masks consistently and while indoors. And that’s consistent with our guidance that still also recommends that people mask in public indoor settings in areas of high or substantial transmission.” She added that there are about 290,000 cases every day and hospitalization rates are higher than they were at the peak of the Delta surge. This comes after a number of states announced their intentions to drop indoor mask mandates in the coming days. Walensky also noted that states and municipalities can determine their own policies but according to the CDC 99% of the U.S. counties still have high levels of transmission.