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With The Delta Variant Thriving, CDC Reverses Mask Guidance

ARI SHAPIRO, HOST:

We learned a lot this week about the highly contagious delta variant of the coronavirus, and in response, corporate and government leaders around the country dramatically shifted their response to this phase of the pandemic. So we're going to begin this Friday by taking stock of what has changed. In a moment, we'll talk with the nation's top infectious disease doctor. Here's what Anthony Fauci said nine days ago.

(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)

ANTHONY FAUCI: Although the CDC still has a broad recommendation that if you are fully vaccinated, you do not need to wear a mask, indoor and outdoor, they make it very clear that they yield in many respects to the local authorities depending upon the situation on the ground.

AILSA CHANG, HOST:

Six days later, this past Tuesday, the situation on the ground had changed enough for the CDC to change course. The agency's latest mask guidelines advise fully vaccinated Americans to mask up indoors in areas where the coronavirus is circulating widely. This is how Dr. Fauci explained the shifting guidance to All Things Considered on Tuesday.

(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED NPR BROADCAST)

FAUCI: The virus has changed. We are dealing with a different virus now. This is not the original virus.

SHAPIRO: By Wednesday, states from California to New York had announced new vaccine requirements for workers. And a new study from Israel suggested that some vaccinated people might be at risk for long COVID symptoms. Here's Saad Omer, a vaccine expert at Yale.

(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED NPR BROADCAST)

SAAD OMER: You can imagine your vaccine providing a bit of a forcefield, but that's not the case anymore. It's still pretty strong armor, but it's penetrable armor.

SHAPIRO: He told NPR that while vaccines are not perfect, they are still really good at preventing serious illness. And that's part of the appeal President Joe Biden made on Thursday when he announced vaccine and testing requirements for 4 million federal workers and contractors.

(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)

PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN: If, in fact, you're unvaccinated, you present a problem - to yourself, to your family and to those with whom you work. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.

Ailsa Chang is an award-winning journalist who hosts All Things Considered along with Ari Shapiro, Audie Cornish, and Mary Louise Kelly. She landed in public radio after practicing law for a few years.
Ari Shapiro has been one of the hosts of All Things Considered, NPR's award-winning afternoon newsmagazine, since 2015. During his first two years on the program, listenership to All Things Considered grew at an unprecedented rate, with more people tuning in during a typical quarter-hour than any other program on the radio.
Karen Zamora
[Copyright 2024 NPR]
Ashley Brown is a senior editor for All Things Considered.

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SOMOS CONNECTICUT is an initiative from Connecticut Public, the state’s local NPR and PBS station, to elevate Latino stories and expand programming that uplifts and informs our Latino communities. Visit CTPublic.org/latino for more stories and resources. For updates, sign up for the SOMOS CONNECTICUT newsletter at ctpublic.org/newsletters.

SOMOS CONNECTICUT es una iniciativa de Connecticut Public, la emisora local de NPR y PBS del estado, que busca elevar nuestras historias latinas y expandir programación que alza y informa nuestras comunidades latinas locales. Visita CTPublic.org/latino para más reportajes y recursos. Para noticias, suscríbase a nuestro boletín informativo en ctpublic.org/newsletters.

The independent journalism and non-commercial programming you rely on every day is in danger.

If you’re reading this, you believe in trusted journalism and in learning without paywalls. You value access to educational content kids love and enriching cultural programming.

Now all of that is at risk.

Federal funding for public media is under threat and if it goes, the impact to our communities will be devastating.

Together, we can defend it. It’s time to protect what matters.

Your voice has protected public media before. Now, it’s needed again. Learn how you can protect the news and programming you depend on.