The CDC Urges Americans To Wear Masks Indoors When Not At Home As Cases Surge

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention urges citizens to take the mask-wearing a step further by wearing them indoors while not at home.

In its weekly Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, the CDC warned that the U.S. has entered “a phase of high-level transmission” as colder weather and the holiday season force more Americans to stay indoors. Wearing a mask should become a common practice while indoors if six feet of social distancing cannot be established. Masks at home are also highly recommended if any household member has been infected, exposed to the virus, or work in high-risk jobs such as meatpacking. 

“Consistent and correct use of face masks is a public health strategy critical to reducing respiratory transmission of SARS-CoV-2, particularly in light of estimates that approximately one-half of new infections are transmitted by persons who have no symptoms,” the agency wrote. “Compelling evidence now supports the benefits of cloth face masks for both source control (to protect others) and, to a lesser extent, protection of the wearer.”

The CDC’s urging comes after President-elect Joe Biden said on Thursday that he would ask Americans to wear masks for at least 100 days.

“Not forever. 100 days,” Biden said in an interview with CNN. “And I think we’ll see a significant reduction.”

Head of the CDC, Robert Redfield, has called masks “the most important, powerful public health tool” in combating the devastating virus that has claimed the lives of nearly 280,000 Americans and infected over 14 million. 

“Within households, face masks should be used when a member of the household is infected or has had recent potential COVID-19 exposure (e.g., known close contact or potential exposure related to occupation, crowded public settings, travel, or nonhousehold members in your house,)” the agency added.

In addition, the CDC also recommends postponing unnecessary travel plans. If you decide to travel, the agency recommends getting tested before and after the trip and quarantining for at least a week after returning.