CDC drops mask requirement in health care settings

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) last week released guidance dropping its requirement for universal masking in health care settings in areas without high COVID-19 transmission rates. The Kaiser Family Foundation released a policy brief stating rates of self-reported long COVID-19 are 25% to 33% higher among adults who are women, transgender, Hispanic and without a high-school degree than they are among all adults. Consequently, long COVID could exacerbate existing disparities in health and employment. Children ages 5 to 11 may soon be eligible for omicron COVID-19 boosters. However, many of the country’s youngest children have not received a COVID-19 vaccine. (CDC guidance, 9/23/22)