A woman wears a mask indoors in Manhattan, New York City, earlier this year. The city’s public health commissioner issued new guidance on Friday advising New Yorkers to wear face coverings in all public spaces.
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A woman wears a mask indoors in Manhattan, New York City, earlier this year. The city’s public health commissioner issued new guidance on Friday advising New Yorkers to wear face coverings in all public spaces.
Spencer Pratt/Getty Images
Public health officials are revisiting the topic of indoor masking as three highly contagious respiratory viruses spread during the holiday season.
Over the past few weeks, cases of COVID, flu, and respiratory syncytial virus (known as RSV) have surged, sickening millions of Americans, overwhelming emergency rooms, and even cold medicine shortageThe triple threat is “triple demic” by some health experts.
Rochelle Walensky, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said last week that the combination of multiple viruses at the same time is straining health care systems across the country.
Map of tracking centers COVID-19 community level The orange color is getting stronger these days. This color indicates areas of “high” infection. Warenski told NPR’s Alisa Chan upon All things considered.
“We have encouraged and continue to encourage these communities to wear masks to protect them during these high-level conditions,” she said.
Nearly a tenth of U.S. counties are encouraged to wear masks indoors, according to CDC
The CDC’s latest COVID-19 community level map is available at 9% or more Number of counties in the country deemed to be at high risk of infection. Federal agencies recommend that people living in these areas wear masking indoors.
Nearly every state on the map released Friday had at least one county with high or moderate COVID-19 community levels. Hawaii, Maine, New Hampshire, and the District of Columbia are the only US jurisdictions with low community levels in all counties.
You can look up your county on the CDC page here Find out what the risk level is in your area and if masking is recommended where you live.
Public health officials are asking people to wear masks in places like Washington, New York and Los Angeles
In Washington state, 12 county health officers and 25 hospital executives release On Friday, new guidance asking residents to practice indoor masking.
The Oregon Department of Health has likewise advised residents to wear face coverings in crowded indoor areas, especially to protect children and the elderly.
“The combination of surging flu, RSV, and COVID-19 cases is pushing hospitals beyond their current ICU bed capacity. That’s what happened,” said state epidemiologist Dr. Dean Sidelinger. Said at a press conference on Thursday.
Last week, the County of Los Angeles changed its COVID Community Level to High.On Thursday, Dr. Barbara Feller, the local public health director urged Residents will be required to wear masks indoors, and if COVID cases and hospitalizations continue to rise, mask mandates could be imposed, he added.
In New York City, Health Commissioner Dr. Ashwin Vasan announced on Friday that advised New Yorkers wear face coverings inside stores, public transportation, schools, child care facilities, and other public shared spaces, especially when crowded.
