Coronavirus: US urges face masks indoors as Delta variant surges
- CDC changes course on indoor masks in some parts of the US
- White House considering vaccine mandate for federal workers
People vaccinated against Covid-19 in high-risk parts of the United States should resume wearing masks indoors, the top health authority said, a major reversal in guidance that underscored the country’s struggle to suppress the Delta variant.
Centres for Disease Control and Prevention director Rochelle Walensky cited new data that shows rare breakthrough cases involving Delta have an increased risk of onwards transmission.
“In areas with substantial and high transmission, CDC recommends fully vaccinated people wear masks in public indoor settings,” she said.
As recently as last week, the CDC had defended its surprise decision in May that vaccinated people did not have to wear masks indoors in most circumstances.
In another setback, the White House on Tuesday also ordered all its staff to mask up again due to local transmission rates in Washington.