La Crosse County nixes mask advisory after CDC Covid-19 guidance updated

LA CROSSE, Wis. (WKBT) — The La Crosse County Health Department has ended its health advisory recommending residents wear face coverings in public, enclosed spaces following the updated guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Wisconsin Department of Health Services.

“We support businesses who continue to require anyone who enters their premises to wear a mask. We encourage everyone to get vaccinated to protect yourself,” said the Coulee COVID-19 Collaborative — which includes the health department, as well as Gundersen and Mayo Clinic health systems — in a statement Friday.

The CDC announced Thursday that fully vaccinated people no longer need to wear masks outdoors or in most indoor settings.

The updated guidelines are based on the scientific consensus on the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines. Studies have shown that the vaccines are 90% more effective in real-world settings in preventing mild and severe disease, hospitalization and death, which means that its safe for people who are fully vaccinated to start returning to normal indoor and outdoor activities.

However, there are exceptions to the guidelines, especially when it comes to kids who aren’t eligible for the vaccine. Most students are still unvaccinated, which means the guidance for K-12 schools remains unchanged.

Masks should also continue to be used by all people in health care settings, homeless shelters, correctional facilities, and on buses, trains,and planes. Additionally, those who are not yet vaccinated should continue to wear masks and physically distance in public, according to the collaborative.

Those who are interested in the vaccine can visit News 8 Now’s Find a Vaccine page to find a provider near them.

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