CDC Recommends Face Masks Indoors For Fully Vaccinated Americans Again In 'Substantial Or High' COVID Transmission Areas
BOSTON (CBS) -- The Centers for Disease Control announced Tuesday that fully vaccinated Americans in communities with substantial or high COVID transmission should once again wear face masks in public indoor settings. The announcement comes as the highly contagious Delta variant has caused a rise in cases COVID nationwide, including some breakthrough cases among the fully vaccinated.
According to a map of COVID tracking data on the CDC's website, Suffolk County, Bristol County, Cape Cod and the Islands are among the Massachusetts areas with substantial or high transmission.
"With the Delta variant, vaccinating more Americans is more urgent than ever," CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said.
Massachusetts has seen more than 5,000 breakthrough COVID cases in fully vaccinated people. Provincetown has reinstated an indoor mask mandate because of a growing coronavirus cluster, with 550 people there testing positive for the virus.
In a statement Tuesday evening, Gov. Charlie Baker's press secretary said, "The Baker-Polito Administration is reviewing the new face covering guidance released by the CDC today."
Gov. Baker said last week that Massachusetts is not currently looking at bringing back a statewide mask mandate or restrictions because of the state's high vaccination rate. Masks continue to be required in many transportation and public transit settings, per CDC guidelines.
The CDC also recommend that everyone in K-12 schools wear a face mask, regardless of whether or not they've been vaccinated.
