Masking up is recommended for those who are sick and want to take precautions amid rising respiratory illnesses this winter, according to The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
CDC Director Mandy Cohen released a video on Wednesday about how to be careful this year as the highly mutated “Pirola” Covid variant spreads alongside other respiratory viruses in the US.
Cohen said that respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) cases are “elevated” this season, with Covid and pneumonia cases especially on the rise.
There has been a 1.2 percent increase in Covid test positivity in the most recent week, and a 10 percent increase in hospital admissions, according to the CDC.
The CDC’s mask-wearing guidance on their Use and Care of Masks page states: “People with symptoms, a positive test, or exposure to someone with COVID-19 should wear a high-quality mask or respirator when indoors in public.”
The CDC recommends that people take additional precautions to protect themselves against viruses, like getting the Covid vaccine, the flu vaccine, and the RSV vaccine for those over the age of 60.
Cohen said other layers of protection include washing your hands, improving ventilation, and wearing a mask.
Masking recommendations eased up over the summer, but the CDC seems to be tightening guidance on mask wearing this winter as viruses spread. In May, the CDC advised healthcare facilities to take a risk-based approach to universal masking.
