Delta variant in the United States: those who are fully vaccinated do not have to wear a mask

US does not deem it necessary for those vaccinated to revert to using masks given the rise in COVID-19 cases linked to the Delta variant, contradicting the position of the experts, the World Health Organization (WHO) and local authorities in Los Angeles.

This is what declared this Wednesday the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Rochelle Walensky. “If you are vaccinated, you are safe from the variants circulating here in the United States”, Walensky said in an interview with the American television channel NBC.

The issue of mask use has returned to the center of debate in the United States after health officials in County of Los Angeles and the WHO will recommend that even fully vaccinated people continue to use them indoors as a precaution due to the increase in the Delta variant.

According to updated projections from CDC, the delta variant accounted for 26.1% of COVID-19 infections in the United States during the two-week period ending June 19.

However, Walensky said CDC guidelines had not changed and that “fully vaccinated” people did not need to wear masks. since the inoculations are “very effective” against the Delta variant.

In addition, he explained that WHO is facing a global situation in which far fewer people have been vaccinated than in the United States, he therefore issues “more cautious” advice.

Regarding the situation in Los Angeles, Walensky noted that it is local lawmakers “who should develop policies for their local environment”.

In the United States, data showed that after a rapid decline over two months, the infection rate stabilized since mid-June due to localized peaks in insufficiently vaccinated regions of the country.

The Delta variant of the coronavirus, first detected in India, has spread to different countries and with it concerns about the spread of the pandemic given its high transmission capacity. Faced with this risk, there is confidence in the increasing vaccination of populations, even if the rate varies from one country to another.

In some Western countries that were epicenters of the pandemic, the situation has greatly improved thanks to rapid vaccination campaigns. This is the case of Italy, mask-free and “low risk” area since Monday, which represents a drastic change from the start of last year, when it was a global symbol of the coronavirus crisis.

However, the Minister of Health, Roberto Speranza, urged the Italians to remain vigilant. “The battle is not yet won,” he said.

Indeed, the strain is already present in 85 countries and is the most contagious of all the variants of coronavirus identified to date. A senior European Commission official on Monday expressed “doubts” that the virus-stricken UK could host the European Championship semi-finals and final at Wembley, and urged UEFA to “analyze” the choice of venue.

Is that UK struggles with sharp rise in Delta variant which causes an infection rate four times that of the European Union. But the government has rejected any suggestion that the final matches be played elsewhere.

(With information from EFE and AFP)

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