The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has updated its stance on masks and is now recommending wearing masks for up to six months a year in health care settings.
“CDC is in the early stages of developing metrics that could be used to guide when to implement select infection prevention and control practices for multiple respiratory viruses,” the CDC said in a May 8 update to its recommendations for health care personnel during COVID-19.
“Some facilities might consider recommending masking during the typical respiratory virus season (approximately October-April),” the agency said. The recommendation for six months of masking is applicable only in settings where health care is delivered, including nursing homes and home health. It is not intended for non-health care settings like restaurants….