With the Pandemic Winding Down, Should You Put Your Mask Away?

Thursday, July 8th, 2021 -- 12:00 PM

(Bob Hague, WRN) -The coronavirus pandemic appears to be winding down; should you be putting your mask away?

Wisconsin's Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Ryan Westergaard, says the decision should be pretty straightforward, if you're not vaccinated. "Our strong recommendation is still, that when they're in those public environments, people that are not vaccinated wear masks when they're in public."

Westergaard says that's in keeping with the recommendations of the CDC. "And if everyone else wants too, it's a totally reasonable decision."

Dr. Westergaard continued, "In this environment, you can't be too cautious. There's a risk that infections will tick up again, as the more infectious variant is spreading. But really I think the key message right now is that people who are not yet vaccinated should be wearing masks, and if everybody else wants to, it's a totally reasonable decision."

The mask advice comes as the Delta variant is becoming more widespread, and about half the people in Wisconsin who are eligible to get vaccinated have yet to get a first shot.

Tthose of us who are not vaccinated shouldn't let our masks down. "The science is pretty clear right now, that unvaccinated people have a lot to benefit from wearing masks, both in terms of protecting themselves, and in terms of protecting against the spread of the virus in communities."

About half the people in Wisconsin who are eligible to get vaccinated have yet to get a first shot, and the more easily transmissible Delta variant is circulating in the state.

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