The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) relaxed its mask guidance on Friday, 2/25/22. The change could allow more than 70% of Americans to remove their face masks as long as COVID-19 hospitalizations in their region remain “low” to “medium” based on the CDC’s metrics.
The CDC’s updated mask guidance, which can be found here, marks a new focus on the impact of severe disease on hospitals rather than overall infection rates.
“With widespread population immunity, the overall risk of severe disease is now generally lower,” reported Dr. Rochelle Walensky, Director of the CDC. “This updated approach focuses on directing our prevention efforts towards protecting people of high risk for severe illness and preventing hospitals and health-care systems from being overwhelmed.”
Under the updated color-coded system, people who live in green counties with low levels of COVID-19 do not need to wear face coverings. People who are at high risk and live in yellow counties where there’s a medium COVID-19 level should consult with their treating medical provider about whether to wear a mask. People who live in orange counties with high COVID-19 levels should wear masks in indoor places—including workplaces. The CDC published the following chart for guidance:
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