This Week in COVID-19: Latest on New CDC Guidance

As of February 19, there have been 78,732,221 COVID-19 cases in the United States. In the last 7 days, there have been 481,708 new cases identified. (CDC) 

The CDC has released new guidance that categorizes most of the United States population as low or medium risk for COVID-19, meaning that those who are not immunocompromised may abstain from wearing masks in indoor settings. (CNN)

The guidance is based on the agency’s COVID-19 Community Level metrics, powered by 3 pieces of community-level data: new COVID-19 hospitalizations, hospital capacity, and new cases of COVID-19. (CDC)

All in all, these new guidelines mean that roughly 70% of Americans can stop wearing masks, social distancing, and avoiding indoor spaces. (New York Times)

Mask requirements are still in place, however, in certain spaces—like healthcare settings and on public transportation. (American Hospital Association, Washington Post)

But as the mask mandates expire, private businesses have begun putting their own masking requirements in place, with some business owners simply unwilling to risk exposure to what is still a highly contagious respiratory virus. (NPR)

Check back next Monday for the latest updates and COVID-19 news you need to know.