CDC may update indoor mask guidance as states loosen restrictions

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said it may soon loosen its COVID mask guidance, as a growing number of states have already dropped indoor mask mandates for businesses. 

"We want to give people a break from things like mask-wearing when these metrics are better, and then have the ability to reach for them again should things worsen," CDC director Rochelle Walensky said Wednesday. 

For now, the CDC's recommendations remain unchanged: Regardless of vaccination status, everyone should wear a mask in indoor public spaces in areas with high transmission. As of Wednesday, that's more than 96% of U.S. counties, according to the CDC.