US eases Covid-19 restrictions, CDC issues new guidelines
Zee News
"The new guidelines, which took effect from Friday, reflect the administration`s view that the US has entered a different, potentially less dangerous phase of the pandemic," said a report.
New York: The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has eased mask recommendations for the bulk of the country under a new framework that immediately affects nearly 70 per cent of Americans.
"The new guidelines, which took effect from Friday, reflect the administration`s view that the US has entered a different, potentially less dangerous phase of the pandemic," reported The Washington Post.
The new guidelines suggest that 70 per cent of Americans can now stop wearing masks, and no longer need to keep social distance or avoid crowded indoor spaces. The change follows a relaxation of restrictions by most governors responding to nosediving case counts and public pressure, Xinhua news agency reported.
"The shift reflects the reality that after more than two years of living with the virus, most communities have greater protection against severe disease because of widespread immunity gained from both vaccinations and infections, as well as the increased availability of treatments, testing and higher-quality masks," said the report.
Under the new framework, counties are guided to determine the need for restrictions after assessing three factors -- new Covid-19-related hospital admissions over the previous week and the percentage of hospital beds occupied by Covid-19 patients, as well as new cases per 100,000 people over the previous week.
