You may not want to throw away that face mask just yet. The World Health Organization has urged fully vaccinated people to keep wearing their face masks indoors and practicing social distance as the contagious delta variant continues to spread throughout the world.
- “People cannot feel safe just because they had the two doses. They still need to protect themselves,” said Dr. Mariangela Simao, WHO assistant director-general, last Friday, according to USA Today.
Does the CDC recommend face masks?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said back in May that fully vaccinated Americans don’t need to wear face masks indoors.
- The CDC did not give any sign that it would change its stance after hearing the WHO’s update, USA Today reports.
Did Los Angeles County add a new face mask mandate?
We’re already seeing some mask restrictions added back into public health guidances. For example, Los Angeles County recently recommended that people wear face masks indoors in public spaces — no matter your vaccination status, according to KTLA. The point is to stop the spread of the delta variant of the novel coronavirus.
This is not a mandate, though. It’s merely a suggestion to wear face masks in grocery stores, movie theaters and family entertainment centers, as well as workplaces, for now.
- “Until we better understand how and to who the delta variant is spreading, everyone should focus on maximum protection with minimum interruption to routine as all businesses operate without other restrictions, like physical distancing and capacity limits,” the LA County health department said in a statement, according to KTLA.
Officials across the U.S. consider new restrictions
U.S. health experts are considering adding back restrictions because of the surging delta variant, CNN reports. Experts are considerably worried that regions of the country without low vaccination rates will see heavy surges in the fall and winter.