Experts say a variant is now rapidly spreading across the US
“We’re not done yet, Covid isn’t done with us. The variants are still a risk,” Dr. Tom Frieden, former director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said. “You don’t declare victory in the third quarter.”
“But in our worst scenario, where people stop wearing masks faster, start having gatherings faster, then you can see a surge in April,” he said.
A customer enters a store with a face mask required sign displayed on March 2, 2021, in Dallas
Another state leader announces eased restrictions
“I ask all Wyoming citizens to continue to take personal responsibility for their actions and stay diligent as we look ahead to the warmer months and to the safe resumption of our traditional spring and summer activities,” the governor said in a statement on Monday.
A face-covering protocol will stay in place for K-12 schools, he added.
Other state leaders, including Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves also announced earlier this month they were doing away with mask mandates.
“Listen to the recommendations of the CDC regarding mitigation methods, wearing of masks, physical distancing,” Fauci told the National League of Cities on Monday. “Listen to what their recommendations are.”
Post-vaccination guidance doesn’t go far enough, some experts say
The guidance says fully vaccinated people can visit other vaccinated people indoors without masks or physical distancing, can visit indoors with unvaccinated people from a single household without masks or physical distancing — if the unvaccinated people are at low risk for severe disease — and can skip quarantine and testing if they’re exposed to someone who has Covid-19 but are asymptomatic, but should still monitor for symptoms for two weeks.
The CDC also noted its travel recommendations have not changed: it says people should delay travel and stay home. The guidance will continue to be updated, Walensky said on Monday.
But some experts say the guidance didn’t go far enough.
“This is one of these examples where I think the CDC is being far overly cautious in a way that defies common sense,” emergency physician Dr. Leana Wen told CNN on Monday. “It just doesn’t make sense that you can’t travel, especially if you now can get together with loved ones, I think a lot of people are eager to see their grandkids who they don’t necessarily live with.”
“I actually would go further and say that people who are fully vaccinated should be able to travel, should be encouraged to travel,” she added.
CNN’s Virginia Langmaid, Jacqueline Howard, Jen Christensen and Will Brown contributed to this report.
