Speak Up: CDC says vaccinated need masks in areas where COVID is surging

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reversed course Tuesday on some mask guidelines, recommending that even vaccinated people return to wearing face coverings indoors in parts of the U.S. where COVID-19 is surging. Citing new information about the ability of the delta variant to spread among vaccinated people, the CDC also recommended indoor masks for all teachers, staff, students and visitors to schools, regardless of vaccination status.

The new guidance follows recent decisions in Los Angeles and St. Louis to revert to indoor mask mandates amid a spike in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations that have been especially bad in the South. The country is averaging more than 57,000 cases a day, as well as 24,000 COVID-19 hospitalizations.

Delaware Gov. John Carney has previously said he would not impose new restrictions unless the state’s COVID-19 statistics “get really bad.” While Delaware hasn’t seen as dramatic an increase as other parts of the country have, cases have been on the rise here.

• Put those masks on outside on the beach, people! But not when you are sitting down in a restaurant next to people! — Ryan Fenimore

• You can’t claim to know about science when it’s obvious you don’t even know about simple biology. They take their masks off in a restaurant to eat. They’re also socially distanced. — Gary Greer

• It worked so great the first time. Also, let’s completely shut down the economy, cause supply-side shortages and give away trillions of dollars, since that worked well the first time, too. — Kelly Lord

• Cases have tripled within the past 30 days! Sussex County, as per the CDC, is showing substantial community spread of the virus as of last week. Look at the “real data”! Kent County is showing moderate spread! Most towns are only in a 30% vaccination rate, rather than the 70% political number that has been displayed! Drill down and examine the vaccination rates for each town, and you will see that Delaware is not doing as well as that 70% political number would suggest that we are! — Elizabeth Hettinger Larlham