Florida Weighing Impact Of CDC Mask Change

The entire state meets the CDC's definition of places with either substantial or high transmission.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is updating its mask guidance as the delta variant of the coronavirus continues its grip on the United States. The agency announced it is now recommending universal indoor masking at schools regardless of vaccination status and masking for vaccinated individuals in public indoor settings in areas of substantial or high transmission. “We believe the vast majority of transmission is occurring in unvaccinated people and through unvaccinated people but unlike the Alpha variant that we had back in May where we didn’t believe if you were vaccinated you could transmit further, this is different now with the Delta variant. We’re seeing now that it’s actually possible if you’re a rare breakthrough infection that you can transmit further which is the reason for the change,” said CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said during a telebriefing Tuesday.