The Biden administration will significantly loosen federal mask-wearing guidelines to protect against COVID-19 transmission on Friday, according to two people familiar with the matter.
President Joe Biden removes his face mask to speak in the South Court Auditorium in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building on the White House complex, Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2022, in Washington. – The Biden administration will significantly loosen federal mask-wearing guidelines to protect against COVID-19 transmission on Friday, according to two people familiar with the matter, meaning most Americans will no longer be advised to wear masks in indoor public settings.
The new metrics will still consider caseloads, but also take into account hospitalizations and local hospital capacity, which have been markedly improved during the emergence of the omicron variant. That strain is highly transmissible, but indications are that it is less severe than earlier strains, particularly for people who are fully vaccinated and boosted.
The change comes as nearly all U.S. states that had put in place indoor mask-wearing mandates for the winter omicron surge are letting them lapse as cases have precipitously dropped nationwide. Some have eliminated the mandates entirely, while others have kept mask-wearing requirements in place for schools and medical facilities.
Malaysia Latest News, Malaysia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
CDC could change metrics used for COVID-19 restrictions, including masks, as soon as FridayAccording to experts, 'community levels of disease' will no longer be determined by cases alone, but by severe cases leading to hospitalization and death.
Read more »
Iceland to lift all COVID-19 restrictions on FridayIceland will lift all remaining COVID-19 restrictions on Friday, including a 200-person indoor gathering limit and restricted opening hours for bars, the Ministry of Health said on Wednesday.
Read more »
CDC could change metrics used for COVID-19 restrictions, including masks, as soon as FridayAccording to experts, 'community levels of disease' will no longer be determined by cases alone, but by severe cases leading to hospitalization and death.
Read more »
LA County: Starting Friday, masks can come off indoors with COVID vaccination proofThe action, in the form of the latest amended Los Angeles County Public Health order, marks a significant shift as the region emerges from the grip of the omicron surge.
Read more »
Boston could see up to 1 foot of snow on FridayThe temperature reached 69 degrees at Logan Airport on Wednesday for a new record high. Now, it's cold again and a snowstorm is coming.
Read more »