Washington, Feb. 25 (US): The Biden administration will significantly relax federal mask-wearing guidelines to protect against COVID-19 transmission on Friday, meaning that most Americans will not be advised to wear masks in indoor public spaces.
On Friday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will announce a change in the metrics it uses to determine whether face coverings should be recommended, moving from looking at the number of COVID-19 cases to a more holistic view of the risks from the coronavirus to society.
Under current guidelines, masks are recommended for people residing in communities with significant or high transmission — nearly 95% of US counties, according to the most recent data, the AP reports.
The new metrics will still take into account the number of cases, but also hospitalizations and local hospital capacity, which were significantly improved during the advent of the omicron variant.
This strain is highly transmissible, but indications are that it is less severe than previous strains, especially for people who have been fully vaccinated and reinforced.
Under the new guidelines, the vast majority of Americans will not live in areas where masking in public is recommended, based on current data.
The new policy comes as the Biden administration moves to shift its focus to preventing serious illness and death from COVID-19, rather than all infections, as part of a strategy adjustment for a new “stage” in the response as the virus becomes endemic.
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