Senior officials met on Sunday evening to review new data and evidence regarding the transmissibility of variant and breakthrough cases, according to a person familiar with the talks. An announcement could arrive as early as Tuesday, although one person warned it could happen later this week.
Two months ago, when the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updated the mask guidelines indicating that most fully vaccinated people could do without masks indoors, the guidelines evolved so quickly that officials of the administration were informed less than a day before. This time around, the process goes more methodically as they decide how to proceed.
The CDC did not immediately respond to CNN’s request for comment.
White House officials have repeatedly said that it will be up to the CDC to change official guidelines and that they will follow the lead of medical and health experts. The administration’s renewed discussions on revising the mask recommendations revolve around the masking messages the White House should offer and the guidance the CDC should issue, people familiar with the matter told CNN.
Dr Anthony Fauci, chief medical adviser to President Covid-19 and director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said on Sunday that revised mask guidelines for vaccinated Americans were under consideration and that ‘he was part of the discussion. Fauci also said the United States was “headed in the wrong direction” as the number of Covid-19 cases continues to rise, especially among unvaccinated Americans.
President Joe Biden said last week that two dozen members of his Covid response team were looking at the increase in cases and hospitalizations among the unvaccinated and determining whether new mask recommendations were needed.
Officials in several places, including Los Angeles, have been forced to revert to previous mask requirements due to the increase in Covid-19 cases and hospitalizations among Americans who have refused to be vaccinated.
The White House announced this week that it was maintaining existing travel restrictions on coronaviruses amid growing cases triggered by the Delta variant.
The Biden administration recently extended non-essential travel restrictions for the northern and southern borders of the United States until August 21. The United States has restricted non-essential travel along both borders since the start of the pandemic and is extending those restrictions on a monthly basis.
This story has been updated with additional background information.
