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The largest union of registered nurses in the United States has called on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to bring back recommendations for universal masking in public, regardless of people’s immunization status.
National Nurses Union (NNU) in Monday letter to CDC director Rochelle WalenskyRochelle WalenskyDo you need a vaccine booster and other questions regarding COVID Pfizer to brief U.S. health officials on coronavirus recall: The Hill’s Morning Report: Afghanistan’s future now depends on Afghans , says Biden MORE called on the agency to reinstate guidelines for all people to wear masks in public and near people outside their homes.
NNU Executive Director Bonnie Castillo highlighted a 16% increase in COVID-19 cases in the United States compared to last week, according to CDC data, as well as an increase in the number of cases in more than 40 states and hospitalizations in more than 25 states as reasons to revert to previous stricter guidelines.
“NNU strongly urges the CDC to restore universal masking, regardless of vaccination status, to help reduce the spread of the virus, especially in infected people who are not showing symptoms,” Castillo wrote in the letter. “Our suggestions are based on science and the precautionary principle and are made to protect nurses, other essential workers, patients and the public from Covid-19. “
The union also cited the World Health Organization (WHO) call for those vaccinated to continue wearing masks in public amid the spread of the highly transmissible delta variant. Several U.S. officials and experts have said the WHO guidelines reflect the state of the pandemic around the world, which has overall recorded lower vaccination rates than the United States.
Castillo acknowledged that COVID-19 vaccines are effective in preventing serious illness and death, but noted “that no vaccine is 100% effective, and the emergence and spread of variants of concern can reduce the disease. vaccine efficacy ”.
In its letter, the NNU also calls on the CDC to update its guidelines to “fully recognize aerosol transmission”, mandate monitoring and reporting of cases among healthcare workers and essential workers, and keep records of cases. cases, including mild and asymptomatic infections, among vaccinated people to measure the effectiveness of shots.
The CDC did not immediately return a request for comment on the letter, but officials have always defended the updated mask guidelines, saying those fully vaccinated are protected against the virus.
The UN objected vocally the CDC’s current mask guidelines were updated in May to allow fully vaccinated people to skip masks in virtually any setting. The union argued that the change in recommendations put patients, frontline workers and nurses at risk as the pandemic continues.
In Monday’s letter, the union wrote that the CDC’s relaxation of mask guidelines “ignored” the possibility of fully vaccinated people contracting and spreading the virus. He also said the agency’s guidelines do not protect people, including children, who cannot get the vaccine.
The NNU sent the letter days after the CDC urged schools to reopen for full in-person learning in the fall, saying fully vaccinated teachers and students do not need to wear masks.
It also comes after Los Angeles and St. Louis counties recommended that their residents wear face masks in public indoors.
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