The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) this week issued new guidelines, with advice on topics such as wearing a mask and quarantining after contact with COVID-19.
The guidelines are in response to threats from newer, more contagious virus strains, but U.S. Indicates what life after vaccination might look like.
Here are five things to know about agency advice.
Tight-fitting masks provide better protection
The CDC on Wednesday released a study on how to ensure that masks provide the best protection possible against coronavirus infection. Evidence has shown that wearing a tight-fitting surgical mask or a cloth mask over a surgical mask can significantly reduce the spread of COVID-19.
The study found that transmission of the virus could be reduced by 96.5 per cent if the infected person and the infected person had a combination of tight-fitting surgical masks or more surgical masks than clothing.
The best way to ensure tight fit with a single surgical mask, according to the CDC, is to have ear loops and tuck on the proximal sides of the face.
The CDC also recommended wearing a mask fitter or brace, which can be fitted over a cloth mask or disposable, to ensure that no edges are coming in or out from the surroundings.
Two masks are better than just one
Biden administration officials want people to wear masks, but the CDC doesn’t specifically say they need to double-mask whenever they’re out of the house.
More surgical attachment than cloth provides the best protection, but any kind of facial covering is better than nothing.
“At least what the CDC says is, wear a mask. Okay? This is what it says. Make sure you wear a mask,” Anthony Fauci
Anthony Foussi Majority of the U.S. Task Force continues to work remotely between coronaviruses: Vote Hill’s Morning Report – Presented by Ticket OK – Dams rests his case; Judgment on Trump this weekend Overnight Health Care: Biden says the U.S. will have enough doses to vaccinate every American by July. Fauki thinks widespread vaccine distribution may be available from April The CDC has said it will resume more schools tomorrow. The long awaited guide of, The country’s top infectious disease specialist, said during a recent interview on NBC’s “Today”.
“Then you want it to fit better, so one of the ways you can, if you want, is to put on a cloth mask … that’s all they say,” Fawcett added.
During a conversation with reporters discussing the study, the CDC director Rochelle ValenskyRochelle Valensky Overnight Health Care: CDC calls for precautionary reopening of schools Cuomo faces increasing scrutiny over deaths at COVID-19 nursing home Biden officials begin defending medical aid work requirements Has vowed to open more The agency’s guidance about masks did not change.
“I want to make it clear that these new scientific data published today do not replace specific recommendations about who should wear a mask or when, but they do provide new information on why to wear a well-fitting mask.” Protect, ”Valensky said.
However, the CDC also warned that double-masking does not always provide the best protection. For example, doubling a disposable mask will not help improve the fit, nor will any type of mask be attached to a Can 95 respirator.
New virus strains increase the need for safe treatment
The mask recommendations come as new, as more contagious strains of coronavirus are being seen in numerous states across the country.
But the emphasis on well-fitting masks highlights the plight of health experts and administrative officials: people don’t need to change their behaviors because there are newer types of viruses.
The mutations that lead to variables can only occur if the virus is able to spread and replicate. If you stop the spread, you risk a new change.
People are advised to continue wearing masks unless there is widespread immunity, to keep physical distance, and to avoid large crowds, especially indoors – the same advice advisers have given since last spring.
“So the way you prevent this is the way you can stop the transmission of the virus,” said John Fischer, CDC’s chief medical officer, during an interview with SiriusXM’s “Doctor Radio Reports.”
Officials are warning against lifting the ban
States and cities across the country are moving forward with the removal of coronavirus restrictions, including the repeal of the mask command, allowing indoor dining and increasing indoor capacity limits.
But top health officials have gently suggested that, despite the deaths and hospitalizations, there is no longer a time for relief in evacuation efforts.
“These types are risky,” Brooks said. “It’s not unexpected … but we’re in a place where we can’t get our guards down yet.” I think now is not the best time for some communities in America to pull back such masking mandates, if you will. “
The variant, first seen in the United Kingdom, is at least 40 percent more contagious than the current strain, and will hit the U.S. early next month. Is predicted to be its dominant form. A type first identified in South Africa is also prevalent.
If those types of cases start to grow, it could rob hospitals and deal a significant blow to existing mitigation efforts.
Valensky urged states not to lift sanctions yet.
“We still have to control this epidemic. We still have this kind of filling threat, and I simply discourage any of these activities. We really need to keep all the preventive measures here in the game if we really get it.” Control, ”he told reporters at a briefing on Monday.
The vaccine is working
One positive update the CDC made this week is that people who have been vaccinated do not need to be isolated if they come in contact with CoVID-19.
According to the updated guidance, most individuals who have been fully vaccinated for at least two weeks do not need to be isolated after coming in contact with someone with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 if they have no symptoms.
The message is: If you have been vaccinated, we know you are protected from a therapeutic infection.
More importantly, the guidelines indicate that the CDC is the first to acknowledge that the vaccine can also prevent people from spreading the disease.
While people with no symptoms are still at risk of spreading coronavirus, the CDC said “symmetric and pre-symptomatic transmissions” are thought to play a larger role in transmission than complete asymmetric transmissions.
That information can also help employers and employees as people begin to return to work on site. The benefits of not pushing people into a lockdown for up to two weeks for potential contamination may outweigh the risks of transmission.
One caveat, however, is that the CDC says it does not know how long the defense lasts, meaning that people whose last shot took place three months ago or more should be kept separate even if they are disclosed.
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