New May 2021 CDC Mask Guidelines Cause Confusion

By: Josiah Cook

In mid-May, the Center For Disease Control revised mask wearing guidelines due to the increase in the number of people getting the COVID-19 vaccine and the overall decrease in the number of cases in the United States. However, that does not mean that all U.S citizens should throw their masks away and attend large parties. This relaxation of the rules applies only to people who have been fully vaccinated, not just one dose. This announcement was shocking to many because of the fact that the medical professionals in charge of the CDC had placed heavy emphasis on the importance of mask wearing for the majority of the pandemic. Nevertheless, the policy was implemented, and many public businesses are now allowing customers who have gotten both shots to enter into stores mask-free.

This poses a crucial question: Will Wheaton North’s policy regarding mask wearing change? For the 2020-21 school year, it is not likely, as there are only a few weeks left in the semester and the threat of the virus is still prevalent. Next year, the mask policy will most likely still be in place to ensure the safety of everyone attending WNHS. However, this is not definite, and the COVID-19 situation could change.

Even though this announcement was unexpected and has caused some controversy, it is a subtle sign that the pandemic could be improving. The Center for Disease Control has been the go-to resource for information relating to the coronavirus, and loosening mask mandates demonstrate the result of all the hard work citizens and public health officials have done collectively to stop the spread of this disease.