Covid madness: Hysterical US media issues fresh advice on wearing face masks

News channel CNBC released a guide on Friday, detailing when Americans should wear a mask.

They said that those who suffer from health conditions who could be severely negatively impacted if they catch Covid, should wear a mask in crowded and public spaces.

CNBC said that experts are stressing the importance of wearing a mask in order to protect yourself, no matter your health status.

“That also applies to Americans with normal risk levels, who should also consider masking depending on where they are or who they make contact with,” the publication said.

“All people, regardless of risk level, should consider masking if certain Covid metrics in their region are high."

Medical professionals are also calling for a return of the masks.

Dr Anthony Fauci, Biden’s former top medical advisor, suggested that people mask up to avoid transmission if Covid cases skyrocket over the cooler upcoming months.

“I am concerned that people will not abide by [masking] recommendations,” Fauci said to CNN over the weekend.

“We’re not talking about mandates or forcing anybody, but when you have a situation where the volume of cases in society gets to a reasonably high level, the vulnerable, the elderly, those with underlying conditions, are going to be more susceptible, if they do get infected, of getting severe disease leading to hospitalisation. We know that. That’s a fact.”

His advice comes after a new strain of the virus, known as the Pirola variant, has been identified in four separate US states.

Dr Fauci’s warning has also been backed by other health professionals in America.

Dr Jonathan Reiner, a cardiologist, said even President Biden should mask up.

“Octogenarians comprise the highest-risk group for complications following Covid infection,” said Reiner, a professor at the George Washington University School of Medicine & Health Sciences.

“At least until the numbers start to drop again, it would be appropriate for President Biden to take some precautions and wear a mask in crowds.”

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Other vulnerable groups include people with diabetes, cancer, liver, kidney or lung disease and HIV.

“If you’re a caregiver for somebody who is at increased risk of complication following infection, then I think you should also consider putting a mask on in public places,” Reiner recommended.

He also stressed the use of a N95 mask, a respirator, rather than the standard surgical masks.

Nationwide and state-level mask mandates are not currently in place in the US, however experts expect this will not last for long.

Pavitra Roychoudhury, a professor of labatory medieicne at the University of Washington School of Medicine said she wouldn’t be “very surprised” if this changed soon.

Roychoudhury stressed the importance for wearing masks for the whole population, even if not suffering from a pre-exisiting illness that would make them vulnerable to covid: “For most people who are healthy, they could think about it in the case of actually catching Covid,”

“They might miss a week’s worth of work or feel miserable, so they should ask themselves if they want to take that chance,” Roychoudhury said.