Dr Deborah Birx became U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator in January 2014. Then, in February 2020 she became the White House Coronavirus Response Coordinator. She therefore speaks with authority when she says we should consider masking if living in rural areas. That’s because she says the virus is ‘extraordinarily widespread’ now.
“You Are Not Immune If Living in a Rural Area. Consider Masking”
Dr Deborah Birx met with CNN on August 2, 2020 to explain how the situation changed since March. The virus is now upon us in rural as much as in urban areas. This means all of us, no matter where we are should mask and keep our social distances where necessary. You are no longer safe living in the countryside she cautions.
This means we have to consider masking if living in a rural area too, especially if we have reason to be concerned. You really should consider wearing a mask at home, she continued if there are people there with co-morbidities. This is especially important if you have a local outbreak, and share your space with several generations.
“The Outbreak Is More Widespread in Both Urban and Rural”
Dr Deborah Birx expressed the opinion the future depends on mitigation efforts in the south and west. “It’s not super spreading individuals,” she explained. “It is super-spreading events and we therefore definitely need to take more precautions.” We would add consider masking if living in a rural area too.
CNN reporter Veronica Stracqualursi asked her about schools in states with 5% positive rate of the virus. However, she refused to be drawn beyond commenting as follows.
“If you have high case load and active community spread, just like we are asking people not to go to bars, not to have household parties, not to create large spreading events. We are asking people to distance-learn at this moment, so we can get this epidemic under control.”
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