Why the Delta variant changed the CDC recommendation on chinstrap wear in the United States

Although the pandemic is not yet over, the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had issued the recommendation to wear a face mask or face mask for people fully vaccinated against COVID-19. But yesterday he decided to go back. Those who have already received the immunization schedule must now wear chin straps again if they are indoors. The increase in the frequency of the Delta variant of the coronavirus in patients diagnosed with COVID-19 has forced the US health agency to make the decision, and there are two reasons for the change.

The Delta variant was detected in India in October 2020 and has been classified as “variant of concern” by the World Health Organization and the CDC. It has already been found in patient samples from 125 countries. In Argentina, so far, it has only been detected in samples from people infected with the coronavirus and who were abroad, as reported by the Nation’s Ministry of Health. In the United States, it was identified last March and in early April, it represented only 0.1% of cases. But by the end of June, the Delta variant was already in more than 80% of the cases reported in the United States. And that was one of the reasons to change the decision on the use of the chinstrap, since it is one of the recommendations within the package of measures for the best prevention of coronavirus infection.

The speed of transmission of the Delta variant added to the reluctance of many to get vaccinated has changed plans across the country. The country failed to meet the target of President Joe Biden, who had decided to vaccinate 70% of adults with at least one dose by July 4. He wanted to mark it as “America’s Independence Day from COVID-19”. But it is not yet reached. Only 56.9% of the US population has been vaccinated with a single dose. As of July 27, 39.9% of people over 18 were not fully immunized.

Today, children and adults in K-12 schools are required to wear masks or chin straps, regardless of their immunization status. All vaccinated people should also use them indoors if they are in areas of high or heavy transmission, according to the CDC. In addition, with a population of over 331 million, the health agency wants local leaders in high transmission areas to support vaccination and universal use of the mask or chin strap.

The unvaccinated should always have worn masks in public, according to the CDC, which also urged people to apply the doses. According to CDC director Dr. Rochelle Walensky, there were two main reasons for changing the chinstrap guidelines for fully vaccinated people.

One of the reasons is that it has been discovered that people who have already been vaccinated can become infected and transmit the Delta variant more than previously thought. “The Delta variant shows its willingness to outsmart us and be opportunistic every day in areas where we have not shown a reinforced response against it,” she said of the official.

“Over the past few days, I have seen new scientific data from recent outbreak investigations showing that the Delta variant behaves differently from previous variants of the virus that causes COVID-19. Information about the Delta variant from several states and other countries indicates that, on rare occasions, some vaccinated people infected with the Delta variant after vaccination can be contagious and transmit the virus to others. This new knowledge is worrying and, unfortunately, justifies an update of our recommendations ”.

In addition, Walensky explained the second reason for the change in recommendation of the jugular in vaccinees. Not enough people have yet been vaccinated. “The greatest spread of cases is occurring in places with low vaccination rates and among unvaccinated people,” he said. “This time around and, more importantly, the disease, suffering and death associated with it could have been prevented with increased immunization coverage in this country.” Areas of the country with “high” or “significant” transmission of the coronavirus now represent 64% of the country.

The initial recommendation to use masks in the United States saw several twists and turns, as it has also happened in other countries around the world. In March last year, the CDC issued a warning against the use of masks so as not to deplete scarce supplies that were in hospitals. At that time confusion was being generated in the world over what type of mask should be used by the community at large and even in the West there were doubts as to whether it was really practical to use one.

In April 2020, the CDC suggested that people cover their faces with fabric masks. A year ago, in July 2020, they recommended that everyone wear a chin strap in public places. The leader against the pandemic in the United States, Dr Anthony Fauci, said on July 16 of last year: “As the information changes, you need to be flexible and humble enough to change the way you think about things. And I think, you know, One of the important things that we are emphasizing right now that has really evolved from a situation that has changed is our insistence on wearing chin straps. I mean, chin straps are very important. They protect you from spreading the infection to another person ”.

With the advancement of vaccination, in April of this year, the CDC clarified that it was acceptable for people who had already been vaccinated not to wear a chin strap outside. In May, they released the directive further: they encouraged vaccinated people not to wear masks both outside or inside, except under certain circumstances.

But with the presence of Delta and the number of people who have not yet agreed to receive the doses of vaccines, the epidemiological situation has become worrying. Some cities had already returned to promote the use of the mask. From Los Angeles to St. Louis to Chicago, some places have already replenished guide or mask requirements. The CDC’s recommendation will expedite these steps.

The US House of Representatives is also putting on the mask. The House’s attending physician on Tuesday sent new guidelines requiring that “properly fitting, medical-grade” masks be worn in all interior spaces of the House in light of the CDC’s new guidelines. It is also likely to result in a change in the plans of many school districts preparing for the fall’s return and, in some cases, likely to lead to political clash.

In contrast, in Florida, Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, who supports vaccination, opposed the state or local government asking anyone in his state to wear the mask again. “There has been talk of advocating at the federal level for mandatory masks on children,” DeSantis said last week. “We’re not doing this in Florida, okay?” We need our children to breathe. We need our children to be children ”.

Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson, whose state is an epicenter of the Delta variant, also rejected the idea of ​​new mask regulations. This is because the legislature is controlled by the Republican Party which passed a law rejecting face masks.

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