WORLD
CDC: 67% of Americans should be wearing masks indoors or considering it
Baku, June 21, AZERTAC
The majority of Americans should be wearing masks while in indoor spaces or considering the measure, according to new data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
As of Thursday, more than 67% of the population was in a “high” or “medium” COVID-19 community level – a measure determined by new coronavirus cases, hospitalizations and hospital capacities.
At a high level, people should wear masks in indoor public places, according to the CDC. At a medium level, people should consider wearing masks inside if they are at high risk for severe COVID-19.
The CDC reported that 22% of the U.S. population lives in counties considered to be at a high level and 45% live in counties deemed to be at a medium level. It’s an increase from three weeks ago, when about 18% of the population fell under a high community level and nearly 28% was in a medium community level.
While the percentages have been increasing, there has been no widespread return to mask mandates. In fact, most coronavirus mitigation measures have fallen by the wayside as much of the country is no longer worried about catching COVID-19 despite increasing infections.
The U.S. is averaging more than 100,000 new coronavirus cases each day, which is a jump from an average of 77,000 a month ago and nearly 30,000 two months ago. Hospitalizations are increasing in the South and West but declining in the Northeast, while average deaths appear to have leveled off at fewer than 300 per day.