On July 27, Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Director Rochelle P. Walensky, MD, MPH, announced that the CDC is recommending that people, regardless of vaccination, resume wearing masks / face coverings due to the prevalence of the Delta variant of the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19).
Unlike previous strains of COVID-19, the Delta variant has proven to be more transmissible between persons. Also, one item of great concern is that the variant has led to “breakthrough” cases of COVID-19, which is when a fully vaccinated person comes down with the virus. Although there have been no reported cases of severe infection among the vaccinated, those with breakthrough cases can still spread the virus to the unvaccinated.
Area officials were quick to acknowledge the CDC’s recommendation. First, New York City announced that city employees would have to get vaccinated in lieu of mandatory weekly testing, or face punitive measures. This eventually was mimicked by New York state, the state of California, and the federal government.
One day later, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy and New Jersey Department of Health Commissioner Judy Persichilli strongly recommended that both vaccinated and unvaccinated residents wear masks in indoor settings when there is increased risk.
Examples of such situations include:
· Crowded indoor settings
· Indoor settings involving activities with close contact with others who may not be fully vaccinated
· Indoor settings where the vaccine status of other individuals in the setting is unknown
· Where an individual is immunocompromised or at increased risk for severe disease
Murphy and Persichilli made the following statement:
“Our metrics are trending in the wrong direction, and new data suggests the Delta variant is more transmissible even among vaccinated individuals, which is why we are making this strong recommendation.
“Fortunately, our numbers are a fraction of those in many other states, most of which have significantly lower vaccination rates. Should our numbers reach those levels, we reserve the right to take more drastic action, including a statewide mask mandate.
“We have crushed this virus repeatedly like no other state in the nation, and we are proud to boast among the country’s highest vaccination rates. But at this point, given where our metrics are now, we feel the best course of action is to strongly encourage every New Jerseyan, and every visitor to our state, to take personal responsibility and mask up indoors when prudent.
“And we equally encourage every unvaccinated resident or visitor to get vaccinated. The vaccines are proven safe and highly effective, and are the surest way we can end this pandemic.”
