Florida

‘It’s much worse now’: CDC recommends fully vaccinated people wear masks indoors

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — In mid-May, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said people who are fully vaccinated could drop the masks completely.

Now, almost 11 weeks later, the CDC is recommending fully vaccinated people wear masks in public indoor settings.

The shift didn’t surprise the medical community, but social media shows it did stun some people.

READ: Coronavirus: CDC recommends masks indoors for some vaccinated people

University of Florida’s Dr. Nicole Iovine said she understands why people feel that way.

“To hear that we’re going to have to go back and do additional things to protect ourselves, it’s incredibly disappointing,” she said.

The CDC made the movie as cases continue to climb, primarily because of the highly contagious delta strain. Officials said the science is worrisome and warrants this update to the agency’s recommendation.

READ: COVID-19 outbreak sickens staff, residents at Russell Home after 15 months without cases

“It’s much worse now than it was three months ago, when they made that original recommendation,” said Dr. Thomas Unnasch with the University of South Florida Health. “And because it is changing, we have to change with it. The circumstances have changed.”

Gov. Ron DeSantis has barred local governments from putting mask mandates in place, and has said he will enact one statewide.

READ: 9 things you need to know about the COVID-19 delta variant


Adam Poulisse, WFTV.com

Adam Poulisse joined WFTV in November 2019.