‘This guidance makes sense:’ Infectious disease expert advocates new CDC Guidelines – CBS Pittsburgh

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – You can take off your mask – that’s the message from the CDC for most people in most areas.

The CDC says if the number of hospitalizations in any area remains high, continue to wear masks indoors, otherwise, they may appear.

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Here in Pittsburgh, hospitalizations are manageable and masks can be worn.

Amesh Adalja, an infectious disease expert at Johns Hopkins University told KDKA it was time for the CDC to quit based on its guidelines for case numbers.

“I think this guidance makes sense, it really reflects where we are going with this endemic epidemic, where we will focus more on severe disease rather than all diseases for all cases. ,” he said.

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Dr Adalja said vulnerable people should continue to wear masks but for the rest, it’s OK to let them go.

“There will always be cases of COVID-19, hospitalizations, and even deaths but what will happen? Over time, COVID-19 will become much more manageable, like other respiratory viruses because we have the tools because we have immunity because we have the knowledge,” he said. explain. “So it won’t be this kind of permanent emergency. It will be something to be managed like a daily infection. ”

While there may be a slight increase in cases, Dr Adalja said schools should also feel free to drop masks.

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“I think it’s time for schools to take a short-cut to reduce COVID, but I think changing CDC guidance is a good time to do it.”