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- Biden officials are considering stricter mask-wearing guidance as the delta variant cases spike.
- Officials at the CDCD are reportedly also considering more stringent mask guidelines.
- The guidance would be designed to protect unvaccinated people.
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Top Biden administration officials are considering adopting stricter mask-wearing guidance as the hyper-contagious delta variant causes significant spikes in COVID-19 cases across the country, The Washington Post reported Thursday.
Officials at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are reportedly also considering more stringent mask guidelines. The guidance, which could urge vaccinated and unvaccinated people to wear masks in public and crowded indoor spaces, would be designed to protect unvaccinated people, who now make up almost all COVID-19 hospitalizations and deaths.
The delta variant is driving a surge in cases, which have climbed from an average of about 11,000 new cases per day in the US three weeks ago to 40,000 new cases per day now, the Post reported.
Currently, the CDC recommends that only unvaccinated people wear masks in most public indoor settings. Biden assured Americans that fully vaccinated people are very unlikely to develop serious cases.
"If you're vaccinated, even if you do catch the virus … you're not likely to get sick," Biden said during a Wednesday night CNN townhall. "You're probably going to be symptomless. You won't be in a position where your life is in danger."
The White House insisted that any new formal guidance will be made by the CDC.
"At the White House, we follow the guidance and advice of health and medical experts," said Kevin Munoz, an assistant white House press secretary, told the Post. "Public health guidance is made by the CDC, and they continue to recommend that fully vaccinated individuals do not wear a mask. If you are not vaccinated, you should be wearing a mask."
Biden also said during townhall that the CDC will "probably" recommend that children under 12 wear masks in schools.
"The CDC is going to say that what you should do is, everyone under the age of 12 should probably be wearing masks in school," Biden said, adding that the guidance comes from scientists. "That's probably what's going to happen."