<Anchor> It
seems that the US, where the number of confirmed cases is increasing again due to the spread of the delta mutation, will change the mask wearing guidelines. Vaccines are allowed to take off their masks indoors, but we plan to strengthen the guidelines to require them to be worn again.
Correspondent Kim Jong-won from New York.
<Reporter>
Two months ago, in May, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the CDC, lifted most of the mask guidelines saying that as the number of coronavirus cases in the United States decreased significantly, vaccinated persons do not need to wear masks regardless of indoor or outdoor.
However, as the number of confirmed cases is rapidly increasing due to the spread of the delta mutation, the mask guidelines are likely to be tightened again.
It is expected that new guidelines will soon be issued that require masks to be worn indoors even after vaccination has been completed.
[Rochelle Wolensky / US CDC Director: The CDC recommends that all teachers, students, and staff wear masks indoors, especially in schools. Whether you got the vaccine or not.] The
CDC had no intention of changing the mask guidelines until just last week, but it seems to have changed its policy as the number of cases of breakthrough infection among vaccinated people increased significantly.
In addition, 30% of the population say they will never get the vaccine, and it is known that the virus they transmit is also significantly higher than the previous forecast.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, an American corona authority, also said that he had actively considered modifying the mask guidelines.
With the prospect of the CDC revising its mask guidelines, experts are greatly welcomed that it is going in the right direction, but there are also concerns that it will be a long time before Americans who have already taken off their masks and returned to their daily lives will wear them again.