universal masking

 a plan for potential universal masking suggestions in some locations

TUCSON, Arizona - Due to the nationwide increase in COVID cases, the CDC has developed a plan for potential universal masking suggestions in some locations.

Could this be Tucson's future, one wonders?

If there are 20 hospitalizations per 100,000 persons in a certain area, the CDC will advise universal masking.

The idea of protective measures has once more taken center stage in many talks as new variations make their way to the United States.

A virus caused it. Viruses can change. According to Mary Derby, chief epidemiologist of the Pima County Health Department, "we're going to get different variants, and because we get these different variants, that means that you know, COVID hasn't gone away."

We have already started to see some mask regulations take effect as a result of this new, increased requirement for protection.

According to a national CBS broadcast, two institutions with a liberal arts focus—Lionsgate, a Los Angeles film studio, and Morris Brown College, a college in Georgia—both enacted mask regulations only this week.

But health experts in Tucson advise against becoming afraid.

According to Dr. Felicia Goodrum, professor of immunobiology at the University of Arizona, "these viruses can't quite get the foothold that they could back in 2020."

There were 40 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 persons in Pima County as of last week, and there were roughly ten hospitalizations per 100,000 people. Both fall short of the US norm.

A stoplight grading system places Pima County's positive test rate in the yellow category, which is the middle of the pack.

Officials claim that the testing data is not what it formerly was.

Given the increase in cases, Goodrum asserted, "I would say it's much more widespread than those case numbers indicate."

Without free testing, according to Dr. Goodrum, statistics may be a little more erroneous. Nevertheless, it is clearly obvious who is most impacted by these new variants, even in the lower sample size.

"It should be noted that those hospitalizations are almost exclusively people 65 and older and predominantly unvaccinated individuals," Dr. Goodrum stated.

The CDC would once more advise universal masking for all Tucson residents if hospitalizations there were to double.

Do you think it will happen?

"I doubt that we'll reach a point when we actually need to advise universal masking. But once more, in a situation where you are evaluating the dangers associated with the person or individuals you will be with. It's undoubtedly a factor to take into account.

According to health officials in Pima County, masking is based on individual judgment, and they don't see that changing anytime soon.

"Masking is currently done on an individual basis," Derby adds that the county is being especially cautious in an effort to limit additional reactions from the public in the event that masking turns out to be a major and necessary issue.

"If we start telling everyone to mask now, we could get mask fatigue and when we really need to mask, people might say, 'Hey, I'm done," Derby said.

It doesn't matter if it's COVID masking or not. It's something to think about, according to doctors, with the oncoming RSV and flu season.

"A mask is a great way to help prevent transmission, and there are a lot of viruses out there that are just as bad as covid right now," said Dr. Goodrum.

With students at the University of Arizona already back in class, Goodrum predicts that we might continue to see minor increases in cases over the coming weeks. However, predictions indicate that these new varieties won't be as harmful as earlier iterations of the virus.

RSV and influenza viruses may be just as dangerous to residents' health, if not more so.

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