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Communication Around Masks is Still Terrible

Some experts warned that changes in the guidelines for when people can stop wearing masks were too far away from the time when the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released long-awaited guidelines for May. While we were still learning about the vaccine's safety, epidemiologists were concerned about coronavirus variants. It would be difficult to reinstate them if the mask rules were removed and the cases were spiked again.

The Delta variant-fueled surge is causing cases to rise again across the country, making mask recommendations even more difficult than people had feared. This surge is particularly devastating in areas with low vaccination rates. However, it's also affecting states and counties where the majority of adults have been vaccinated. Some places, such as Los Angeles County, have reintroduced mask mandates not long after they were lifted. The American Academy of Pediatrics has reaffirmed its support for the CDC's guidance, which was unchanged since May. They recommend that all vaccinated teens and adolescents wear masks to school this fall.

Conservative opposition to masking policies is also back. Los Angeles Sheriff says he will not enforce the county's mask mandate. Texas Governor. Greg Abbott has said that he will not impose state-wide masking. He said that it would be inappropriate to demand people with immunity to wear masks.

The constant change in direction frustrates people across all political parties. This confusion and whiplash is the latest episode in a long-running mask communications drama. Since the beginning of the pandemic, the US has had poor messaging regarding face coverings. The White House and CDC switched from telling people not to wear masks to telling them that they should. The inconsistency hurt public trust, Rob Blair, an assistant professor at Brown University of political science international and public affairs, said to The Verge.

Blair stated that "what we have is inconsistent messaging, sometimes coming from the same source." "What we have are utter cacophony. This is not only detrimental to the quality of the responses, but also for trust in general.

We are still facing the same chaos a year later. The message is even more confusing now that vaccines have become widely available. While masks are not as important for those who have been vaccinated, they are crucial in cases where the rate is low. Children under 12 years old are more likely to contract COVID-19 than adults. However, they cannot be vaccinated so masks can help. People who laugh at the confusion of it all may find it difficult to put their masks back on after being confronted with back-and forth.

"I think people are going to be disappointed that people were hopeful and seeing the light at end of the tunnel -- and that would suggest that we're taking steps back," Marcus Plescia (chief medical officer at The Association of State and Territorial Health Officials) told The Washington Post.

It may seem strange to wear masks again in public places, but they are still one of the best ways to prevent the spread of this deadly disease. They are still highly politicized cultural war flashpoints. The foundation for the chaos of the past year was laid by the CDC's early mistakes and the Trump White House's initial obstruction. It's a crucial juncture of the United States' pandemic response.

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