A recent NBC News headline reads “Do you still need a mask?”. I think that question is in many people’s minds as we see mixed use of masks in our grocery stores or other public places.

“As Covid cases and related hospitalizations fall nationwide, Americans — exhausted by two years of pandemic — are increasingly asking when masks can come off indoors. No Yet! says the CDC and many infectious disease experts,” write the NBC News.

According to the CDC guidance, masking is recommended if:

• Communities logging either an average of 50 Covid cases per 100,000 residents or a test positivity rate of at least 8 percent.
• As of Thursday (Feb 3), 99.9 percent of U.S. counties met the criteria for indoor masking.
• Other factors include, vaccination coverage and the virus’s impact on local hospitals as factors in considering when to ease up on masking.

We know people are anxious. Our hospitalization rates are still quite high. Hospitalization and death data also should be key factors in determining if and when mitigation guidance, such as masking, should be lifted.

– Dr Rochele Walensky, Director of CDC (source: NBC News)

Referring to occurrence of new BA.2 variant Dr. Walensky reportedly added “It’s another reason, that it may be premature for the U.S. to lift most mitigation measures, including masking. While Covid cases are declining in other countries that have detected BA.2, they seem to be falling at a slower rate”.

“We need to think of this as a global virus. I understand perfectly well that we’re trying to go back to having a normal society, but the truth is that this virus came not at our request. It came, and it has had a huge societal impact in terms of death and hospitalization in the U.S. and many other countries.”

– Dr. Pedro Piedra, a professor of molecular virology and microbiology at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston (source: NBC News)

• Do you still need a mask? Here’s how the CDC determines if you should wear one
• How well do face masks protect against COVID-19?

In Minnesota, the recommended guidance is evolving. The Star Tribune writes:

• “Minneapolis and St. Paul reinstated indoor mask mandates as of 5 p.m. Jan. 6, with mayors from both cities citing a rise in COVID-19 cases from the fast-spreading omicron variant.
• “Minneapolis’ order requires face coverings in “any indoor locations where members of the public may gather, visit or patronize,” while St. Paul’s applies to businesses licensed by the city “at all times when social distancing of at least 6 feet is not maintained” except when eating or drinking.
• “Both cities will exempt young children (specified in Minneapolis as those under the age of 2) and those with medical conditions that prevent them from wearing masks.

Local Target, Cub Foods and other retailers require masks for employees and encourage them for customers in areas with high coronavirus transmission levels, writes the Tribune.