Delta variant: in the United States, they recommend that children and adolescents wear chin straps | To resume face-to-face lessons after the holidays

The Centers for Disaster Control and Prevention (CDC) They recommended that the children wear a chin strap when they return to class. face to face in September – back to school in the United States – whether they are vaccinated or not. This country is suffering from an increase in coronavirus cases in children caused mainly by the Delta variant.

CDC director Rochelle P. Walensky called on schools to resume face-to-face lessons in accordance with strict health protocols which now include compulsory use of the chin strap so many at primary and secondary level.

“The CDC recommends that everyone in schools K 12 (name used to cover initial and intermediate levels) wear masks indoors, including teachers, staff, students and visitors, whether or not vaccinatedWalensky told reporters, as reported by NBC.

The United States has already permitted the vaccination of adolescents between the ages of 12 and 17, after the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines were approved for use in this population.

Chinstrap protection

President Joe Biden said he understood the regulations could “be disappointing” for the education community.

“The CDC reaffirmed that we can safely open schools this fall (southern spring),” the head of state wrote in a statement. Having students wear masks is uncomfortable, I know, but it allows them to learn and be with their peers with the best protection available. “

Last week, American Academy of Pediatrics (PAA) He also recommended the use of a chin strap for children from 2 years old. when returning to class.

In addition, the AAP reported the existence of 23,550 cases of covid in minors between July 8 and July 15, almost double what was recorded at the end of June.

Walensky acknowledged that the new health recommendations, especially the use of chin straps, would not be welcomed by citizens who believed the pandemic was over. Cities like New York had lifted all restrictions by mid-June.

“People are not only tired, they are frustrated,” lamented the director of the CDC. It is not something that we have decided lightly and I know that it is something which weighs as much on me as on the whole country ”.

The impact of the Delta variant

According to CDC information, the number of new coronavirus cases caused by the Delta variant is over 83% in areas of the country with lower vaccination rates.

“We encourage any activity that motivates people to get vaccinated,” Walensky said and ruled out making vaccination mandatory because of the difficulty for all states and communities to agree to the regulations.

For its part, Biden insisted on need to continue vaccination campaign: “Today’s announcement clearly shows that the most important protection we have against the Delta variant is to get the vaccine. Although most adults are vaccinated, there are still many who are not. Although we have seen an increase in vaccination in recent days, we still need to improve. “