People who are indoors, using public transportation, or who are at risk for severe COVID-19 disease, in general, should wear the mask again.

The head of the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), Dr. Rochelle Walensky, recently recommended that around a third of Americans resume using the mask due to an increase in new cases of COVID-19.

According to the data, over 32% of Americans reside in a community with a COVID-19 community level of medium or high, also known as the Yellow-Orange area.

Since the previous week, an additional 8% of the US population has moved to a county with a COVID-19 community level of medium or high.

In the orange areas, which have high COVID-19 levels right now, she asked local leaders to encourage the use of prevention methods like wearing masks in public indoor spaces and increasing access to testing and to treatment.

Everyone should use protection measures and wear a mask in public, indoor settings in places where community levels are high, the statement read.

Individuals may consider taking preventative actions based on their own risk in regions with medium COVID-19 community levels, such as avoiding crowds, wearing a mask, and increasing their testing, especially before gathering with people indoors.

As the United States is currently experiencing a steady rise in cases in certain regions, she urged everyone to use the array of tools capable of preventing further infection and severe disease, such as wearing a mask, getting tested, accessing early treatment if infected, and getting vaccinated or boosted, especially if you are over 50 and your last dose was more than five months ago.

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