How much longer will we wear masks? Some experts say until there’s a COVID-19 vaccine
How much longer will Americans be asked to wear masks?
It could be a while, health experts say.
Public health leaders in Florida and Ohio said this week that guidelines to keep face coverings on in public could continue until there is a vaccine for the coronavirus
“This is a culture change for us to do this, but it’s actually acting very much like the other social distancing actions we took,” Ohio Department of Health Director Dr. Amy Acton said on Monday.
Acton estimated it could be another year before wearing masks isn’t necessary to prevent spread of the coronavirus.
Florida Surgeon General Scott Rivkees agrees, the Miami Herald reported.
“Until we get a vaccine, which is a while off, this is going to be our new normal and we need to adapt and protect ourselves,” Rivkees said during a Monday news conference.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s top infectious disease expert, has said a vaccine is “on track” to be available in a year to 18 months, which he called an “ultimate game changer,” CNBC reported.
Other health experts agree with the public health leaders in Ohio and Florida.
Saad Omer, director of the Yale Institute for Global Health, told TODAY that masks may be necessary even as a vaccine is distributed.
“Even when a vaccine becomes available, the measures will outlast the release of the vaccine,” Omer told the news outlet. “We are in uncharted territory right now. Vaccines will vary by country, by mode of delivery. You’re looking at least a year to deploy the vaccine and have enough coverage.”
Earlier this month, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released new guidance on masks, asking people to wear them in public. The new guidelines came after research showed high transmission rates involving infected people who still don’t have symptoms.
This story was originally published April 14, 2020 at 3:59 PM with the headline "How much longer will we wear masks? Some experts say until there’s a COVID-19 vaccine."