Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Rochelle Walensky on Friday said that mask requirements need to be continued until we can get coronavirus “cases down.”
Walensky made the comment during an appearance on NBC’s “Today” when directly asked when mask requirements would end.
Walensky said it was “really encouraging” that the surge in infections from the delta variant is “now coming down.” She added that the U.S. is still averaging 75,000 new infections and 1,200 deaths every day.
“We’re heading into winter where respiratory viruses generally do thrive,” Walensky said.
“So right now, I would say our hard work is to continue to get those cases down, to continue to get people vaccinated not only our children, when and if they’re ready, but as well the 63 million Americans who are not yet vaccinated at all. And to continue those prevention measures until we can really get those cases down,” she continued.
Data from the CDC shows that cases have generally been trending downward since the recent surge in infections fueled by the delta variant. However, experts are split on whether the waning delta surge will be the last wave to hit the United States.
Over 66 percent of the U.S. population has received one dose of a coronavirus vaccine, and 57 percent are fully vaccinated.
The U.S. has also begun administering booster doses in populations at higher risk for COVID-19. Thus far, more than 12 million people have received a booster shot.
During a White House COVID-19 response team briefing on Wednesday, Walensky said now is “not the time to be complacent” just because cases are declining.
“We need to do all that we can,” Walensky said. “All we can in our prevention measures and our vaccination efforts to make sure that we don’t become complacent during this period of time.”