Surgeon General on COVID-19 Policies
As the omicron wave of the coronavirus subsides and several U.S. states ease mask mandates, the nation's top doctor says slowly "pulling back" blanket requirements is to be expected, but that policies should still prioritize equity and safety for the immunocompromised.
States including Nevada, New York and Illinois ended mask mandates this week for indoor settings, while others lifted requirements at schools. The White House says talks are underway about how and when to move the country out of the emergency phase of the pandemic, but in the meantime people are advised to keep following guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommending mask use in indoor settings in places with high transmission rates.
U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy told The Associated Press Thursday, "I can see a future where we can live our lives where we treat COVID like other respiratory viruses,"
He couldn't pinpoint a date within the next year, but says the future will be a "cautious" one.