CDC: Masks Not Coming Back, Yet

An official for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says there are currently no plans to reinstate mask mandates, according to NBC News. 

The news comes as COVID-19 hospitalizations and deaths have been steadily rising for weeks.As a whole, however, cases continue to be much lower than they were last year at this time. 

Meanwhile, updated boosters could still be weeks away. An official for the CDC said Thursday that the new shots were expected to be available mid-September. Even with that information, it’s unclear at this time if the recommendation will be for everyone to receive the latest booster, although the Biden administration has indicated that will be the case. 

Since COVID-19 was officially declared a pandemic over three years ago, mask orders have frequently been a contentious and politicized topic. 

Recently, a few hospitals, colleges and at least one film studio have reinstated mask mandates, however, most larger companies and groups have not made the same move. 

Texas governor, Greg Abbott, recently wrote via X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, “There will be NO mask mandates in Texas.” The governor also recently signed a new bill into law, which effectively prohibits mask mandates in the state. The law goes into effect on September 1.

Other politicians, including Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Ten), have also made their opinions on mask mandates very clear. The senator reshared a CNN article on X last week with expert recommendations on masking, and followed with her own commentary.

“Not a chance CNN,” Sen. Blackburn wrote. “We The People will never bow to the authoritarian public health establishment ever again.”

Current CDC guidelines for protecting yourself and others from COVID include basic hygiene practices, staying up to date on COVID vaccines, improving ventilation and spending time outdoors.