The CDC says it’s safe for 90% of Americans to take off their masks regardless of vaccination status thanks to declining cases.
The updated guidelines recommend people who live in areas with severe COVID infections or hospitalization to continue wearing a face mask, according to the CDC Thursday.
The other 90 percent are free to drop their masks in most circumstances, however, the federal government still requires masks on public transportation.
The CDC ‘s new message clarifies a series of muddled messages that have baffled Americans amid a record surge in COVID-19 cases and the spread of the Omicron variant.
President Biden teased the new guidelines during his State of the Union address Tuesday, when he said most Americans would be free of the mask requirements.
“With 75% of adult Americans fully vaccinated and hospitalizations down by 77%, most Americans can remove their masks, return to work, stay in the classroom, and move forward safely,” the president said.