Video: Boston doctor reacts to changes in CDC’s mask guidance
Updated: 1:13 PM EST Feb 26, 2022
IN ANSWER TO YOUQUR ESTION, THE SHORT ANSWER IS YES. THIS IS GREAT NEWS. WE ARE COMING OUT OTHF E MOST RECENT SURGE. ONE CO., UNFORTUNATELY, SUFFOLK COUNTY, IS STILL IN MEDIUM RISK. THE CDC USES THREE METRICS THAT WERE TESTED AND FOUND TO PREDICT FUTURE SURGES, AND THEY USE THIS TO RATE THE RISK AT THE COUNTY LEVEL, NEW COV CIDASES, NEW ADMISSIONS TO THE HOSPITALS, AND PERCENTAGE OF STAFF HOSPITAL BEDS FILLED BY PATIENTS, SO BASED ON THESE FACTORS, THE COUNTY HAS LOW, MEDIUM, OR HIGH RISK. >> THE CDC MAKES A DISTINCTION BETWEEN HEALTHY AND UNHEALTHY PEOP,LE NOT VACCINATED WERE UNVACCINATED. DO YOU THINK THAT’S A MISTAKE? >> A FOCUS ON HEALTHY VERSUS INDIVIDUALS AT RISK OF SEVERE COVID MAKES SENSE. WE CONTINUE TO SEE SEVERE COVID AMONG CERTAIN HIGH-RISK GROUPS OF PEOPLE, PATIENTS WITH CANCER ANOND CHEMOTHERAPY, PATIENTS WITH ORGAN TRANSPLANTS WITH IMMUNOSUPPRESSION, SO WE THOUGHT TO BE CAREFUL IN PROTECTING FRIENDS AND FAMILY AT HIGH-RISK. VACCINES AND BOOSTERS WORK AND WORK VERY WELL. THEY CONTINUE TO BE THE BEST DEFENSE WE HAVE AGAINST COVID. >> ANOTHER LOOK AT THAT MAP. THERE ARE OTHER COUNTIES THAT ARE YELLOW AND ORANGE. HOW DOES THE ADVICE FROM THE CDC CHANGE IF YOU ARE IN ONE OF THOSE AREAS? >> GREAT QUESTION. YELLOW AND ORANGE AREAS ARE AT MEDIUM AND HIGH RISK OF TRANSMISSION, AND THE LOCAL HEALTH CARE SYSTEMS ARE FEELING SIGNIFICANT STRAIN FROM COVID. IF YOU ARE IN A YELLOW OR ORANGE AREA, STAY SAFER. FOR YELLOW AREAS, CONSIDER A MASK. FOR ORANGE AREAS, WEAR A MK.AS AND IN THESE AREAS, BEYOND MASKS, IF YOU EAR GOING TO SEE SOMEBODY AT HIGH-RISK, CONSIDER TESTING BEFORE YOU SEE THEM. >> YOU HAVE BEEN VACCINATED AND BOOSTED OF COURSE. IF YOU AREN I THOSE GREEN OR YELLOW COUNTIES AND GO TO THE GROCERY STORE OR ML,AL WILL YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE REMOVING YOUR MASK? >> I’M LUCKY TO BE VACCINATED, BOOSTED AND HEALTHY, BUT GENERALLY YES, IN THE GREEN AREAS I FEEL COMFTAORBLE REMOVING MY MASK. HOWEVER, I WILL SAY COVID IS LOCAL SO THERE ARE MANY FACTORS TO CONSIDER BEYOND THE THREE METRICS THE CDC USES. BOSTON LOOKS AT THE OCCUPANCY OF ICU BEDS AS WELL, SO LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENTS WILL KNOW THEIR POPULATION AND COMMUNITY BEST. I WOULD LOOK TOWARDS THE CDC MEASURE AND ALSO THE LOCAL DEPARTMENT GUIDANCE BEFORE REMOVING MY MASK. EVEN IN GREEN AREAS, MASTS CONTINUE TO BE REQUIRED IN CERTAIN LOCATIONS, SUCH AS CONGREGATE SETTINGS, CERTAIN INSTITUTIONS AND PUBLIC TRANSPORT. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US THIS MORNI
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Video: Boston doctor reacts to changes in CDC’s mask guidance
Updated: 1:13 PM EST Feb 26, 2022
The CDC no longer recommends face masks for healthy people living in counties with low or medium risk of COVID-19.
The CDC no longer recommends face masks for healthy people living in counties with low or medium risk of COVID-19.
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