Navigating Mask-Wearing Amidst Rising Covid Cases and New Variants in the U.S.

As Covid cases and hospitalizations rise in the US, along with the emergence of new variants, experts are advising on when to wear masks. People infected with Covid should wear masks to prevent the spread, while those not infected should consider their personal risk level, Covid rates in their region, and who they might come into contact with. High-risk individuals, such as the elderly and those with underlying health conditions, should wear masks in crowded and poorly ventilated spaces. Masking decisions should also depend on the number of Covid hospital admissions in a county, with the CDC recommending masking in jurisdictions with 20 or more hospitalizations per 100,000 people. Mask mandates may make a comeback at the institution level, but nationwide mandates are unlikely.