US nurses' union condemns CDC's advice to go maskless

WASHINGTON : The US' union of registered nurses condemned the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for lifting mask recommendations for vaccinated people in the country, stating that it would jeopardise the health of frontline workers, the media reported.

The CDC recommendation "is not based on science" and it would jeopardise the health of frontline workers and the general public, Bonnie Castillo, a registered nurse and executive director of the union, National Nurses United, was quoted as saying by the New York Times on Saturday.

"This is a huge blow to our efforts at confronting this virus and the pandemic," said Castillo, adding that there still remain people who have not yet been vaccinated.

"The mask is another lifesaving layer of protection for workers."

Since Covid vaccine distribution began in the US on December 14, 2020, more than 268 million doses have been administered.

Over 120 million people have been fully vaccinated.

The CDC, while introducing the new recommendations, also cited two recent scientific findings: few vaccinated people become infected with the virus, and transmission seems rarer still; and the vaccines appear to be effective against all known variants of the coronavirus.

However, the union noted that more than 35,000 new cases of coronavirus are being reported and over 600 people are dying each day, the report said.

"Now is not the time to relax protective measures, and we are outraged that the CDC has done just that while we are still in the midst of the deadliest pandemic in a century," Castillo said.

Businesses large and small are also grappling with how to adapt to the CDC's surprise guidance. (IANS)

Also Read: Fully-vaccinated Americans don't need masks: US CDC

Also Watch: Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma Meets Family of Grenade Attack Victim in Digboi