WHO says vaccinated should still wear masks, Alabama doesn’t agree - AL.com

The World Health Organization on Friday urged vaccinated people to wear masks as the Delta variant spreads, yet Alabama’s top officials say masks are not needed.

“Since she is fully vaccinated and has total confidence in the effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccine, Governor Ivey no longer wears her mask,” said spokeswoman Gina Maiola in an emailed statement.

Experts recently told AL.com that the current vaccines remain effective against the fast-spreading Delta variant, but the unvaccinated face a serious risk from the more contagious and deadly strain, they said.

Overall, case numbers in Alabama are not increasing with the variant’s arrival in the state. At UAB, just six COVID positive patients remain in the hospital.

“Our medical staff is of the opinion that most if not all are unvaccinated, but we don’t have accurate data on that,” spokesman Bob Shepard said in an email.

Recent reports from Israel show a pattern of breakthrough cases despite vaccination with the Pfizer vaccine. Estimates for such cases in adults varied from one-third to 50 percent of infections and were reportedly less serious. Israel has reinstated mask requirements indoors but not lockdowns.

On Friday, Dr. Mariangela Simao, WHO assistant director general, told reporters in Geneva that the vaccinated should continue to wear masks in areas with high rates of transmission and that “vaccine alone won’t stop the community transmission.”

But the CDC still advises that Americans who are vaccinated do not need to wear masks. The Alabama Department of Public Health is following suit.

“ADPH continues to follow CDC’s guidance,” said spokeswoman Arrol Shehaan in an email on Monday.

Alabama’s vaccination rates have dropped to less than 10,000 a day in the past week, about a quarter of where they were at the state’s peak in April. Alabama continues to trail the nation with 32.4 percent of residents fully vaccinated, ahead of only Mississippi, according to CDC figures as of Monday.

“(Gov. Ivey) continues to encourage Alabamians to roll up their sleeves and get vaccinated if they are able,” said Maiola.

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WHO says vaccinated should still wear masks, Alabama doesn’t agree - AL.com
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