On July 30, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published its latest Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. According to the CDC, this report contains the data that resulted in the agency's decision to once again revise its mask mandate, encouraging people in places with high virus transmission to wear face masks indoors even if they're fully vaccinated.
In a new media briefing today, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention gave its latest update on the COVID-19 pandemic, including the current state of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in the United States, the vaccination program, and the ways in which the two intersect. As expected, the update also includes the CDC's latest information about its face mask guidance.
Insiders have claimed that top Biden administration officials are in talks about whether the Centers for Disease Control should alter its face mask guidelines in light of the Delta variant. The change, should one happen, may require fully vaccinated adults to resume wearing face masks indoors, though the White House is allegedly aware that such a change could come with its own repercussions.
The COVID-19 Delta variant now accounts for 83-percent of all new coronavirus cases in the US, the CDC has confirmed, while fatalities have also risen again after a period of decline. The new figures suggest earlier fears that the Delta strain could spread far more rapidly were, if anything, optimistic, as the particularly virulent mutation and immunization reluctance in some states lead to new and dangerous hotspots.
New CDC schools guidance pushes in-person learning as K-12 classrooms prepare for the fall 2021 return, though masks will remain a key part of the COVID-19 strategy. The US Centers for Disease Control has been criticized in the past for its policies around classroom learning, blamed on one side for impractically strict guidance, while accused of pushing for premature in-person schooling too rapidly by others.
The US FDA and CDC have made an unexpected announcement on COVID-19 vaccine boosters, downplaying hints that a third shot might be necessary to protect against coronavirus variants. Just how long the current COVID-19 vaccinations can actually be expected to remain effective has been a contentious point over the past twelve months, amid the accelerated push to begin immunizations during the global pandemic.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has reported three cases of a severe and often fatal bacterial infection called melioidosis. The source of these infections is unknown at this time, with the CDC saying these cases are "unusual" because none of the three victims had traveled outside of the US before presenting symptoms.
Even fully-vaccinated people should continue to wear face masks, the World Health Organization has warned, in order to slow the spread of the COVID-19 Delta variant. Despite several countries, including the US, softening mask requirements in recent weeks, the WHO has cautioned that new, especially virulent versions of the coronavirus could still be an issue.
The Ebola outbreak that appeared in the West African nation Guinea back in February is officially over, according to the World Health Organization and the Republic of Guinea Ministry of Health. The outbreak occurred in the N’Zérékoré Prefecture where the previous 2014 to 2016 Ebola outbreak happened. A total of 16 cases resulted from this recent outbreak.
Stalling vaccination efforts could lead to a spike in COVID-19 infections, hospitalizations, and deaths, experts warn, with the latest Delta coronavirus variant proving to be significantly more dangerous than prior strains. COVID-19 Delta has rapidly spread in the US, an ominous sign given new research suggests there's nearly double the risk of hospitalization for those who contract it.
As part of its face masks order back in January, the Centers for Disease Control said that face masks needed to be used when on public transportation like buses and trains, as well as at transportation hubs like subway stations and ferry terminals. Now that the agency has updated its guidelines regarding the use of face masks, the CDC has relaxed the rules regarding transportation, but only when it comes to outdoor transportation hubs.
A common cold virus called respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is unusually active in southern regions in the US, according to the Centers for Disease Control. This virus, which can cause serious illnesses in some people including young kids, is typically active in the fall and winter seasons. However, due to pandemic-related changes in society, the virus is now appearing later than usual.