The director of the Centers for Disease Control Prevention (CDC) Dr. Rochelle Walensky said that wearing face masks is an everyday precaution to reduce chances of getting infected by respiratory viruses, such as COVID-19, flu, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).
The three respiratory diseases are currently on the rise and cases are straining hospital emergency departments. Walensky strongly encourages the public who is eligible to receive the booster and flu shot to get vaccinated.
Face Masks Are a Necessity This Season
CDC director Walensky emphasized the importance of wearing a mask as a precaution that people can take to prevent themselves from catching or spreading a respiratory virus during the holiday season, CNBC reported. She added that the face masks should be high-quality, and well-fitting to prevent the spread of illnesses, especially in places with high levels of COVID-19 transmission.
She also announced that the CDC is considering expanding the system of COVID-19 community levels to take into account other respiratory illnesses, like flu. The system is the health agency's basis for its advisory to wear face masks.
But Walensky said that the public should take proactive action. Aside from wearing masks, the public should practice washing their hands frequently, staying at home when sick, and increasing ventilation.
CNBC reported that about 5% of Americans are living in areas where CDC is officially recommending masks due to high COVID-19 cases. The agency continues to recommend masking to all who travel via plane, train, bus, and other forms of public transportation.
In New York, CBS News reported that most residents said that they will oblige in wearing face masks as flu cases are climbing. Some even said that they have been wearing it since the pandemic and do not go out without a mask. Doctors said that the number of influenza hospitalizations is at its highest in the decade as over 8.7 million cases have already been reported since October 1.
Tripledemic This Holiday Season
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, face masks should not be worn by those under age 2, but recommends it to several groups of people who are over 2 years old and have not been vaccinated against COVID-19.
Flu and RSV are circulating at high levels in the country as COVID-19 cases are also ramping up. This "tripledemic" is a great concern to the public health system, straining hospital capacity.
Walensky noted that some areas in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware are identified as areas with high or very high COVID-19 cases, and encourages people living in these areas to wear masks indoors to help curb the spread of sickness.
Health agencies are teaming up to encourage people to be updated with their flu shots, especially as this week is National Influenza Vaccination Week. Children ages 6 months and above are eligible to get the flu vaccine and COVID-19 vaccine with rare exceptions, as per the CDC. Although, RSV doe snot have any available vaccines yet.
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