CDC health officials are flip-flopping on COVID rules again.
The CDC is expected to release new guidance Tuesday recommending that some vaccinated people wear masks indoors under certain circumstances. A White House source confirmed the announcement and said those living in close contact with immunocompromised or unvaccinated people, including children under the age of 12, will be asked to wear masks.
The CDC is also expected to announce that everyone in K-12 schools, regardless of vaccination status, should be masked.
The director of the CDC, Rochelle Walensky, will make an official announcement Tuesday at 3 p.m.
The change sharply contradicts the agency’s decision in May to give vaccinated people the green light to unmask. At the time, Walensky said that infection and transmission of the virus is extremely rare after vaccination.
Cities and local counties may decide to make the CDC’s recommendations mandates. The populous Los Angeles County reinstated a blanket mask mandate on July 17, and New Orleans issued an indoor mask advisory on Monday. Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot also warned constituents on Tuesday that mask mandates might make a comeback.
As recently as last week, the CDC said that there would be no change in guidance on masks unless a significant scientific development arose.
The White House has said that recommendations on COVID restrictions are entirely up to the CDC. The current administration also said that the country will maintain existing COVID travel restrictions.
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said Tuesday that the CDC was doing the right thing and that the change was crucial to “battling an ever-evolving virus.”
“Their job is to look at evolving information, evolving data, an evolving historic pandemic, and provide guidance to the American public,” she said.
Psaki said the president was briefed by Dr. Anthony Fauci Tuesday morning on the change.
