Most Americans live in areas where they can take a break from wearing masks, even students at schools. This is according to new U.S. guidelines.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) outlined the new measures for communities where COVID-19 is loosening its grip. They emphasized less positive results and more on what’s going on at hospitals.S

The new system drastically changes the look and feel of the CDC’s risk maps. It places more than 70% of Americans in areas where the coronavirus poses a low to the medium threat to hospitals. The agency stated that these are people who can no longer wear masks.

The agency advises that schoolchildren and adults wear masks in areas where COVID-19 risk is high. This is the case in 37% of U.S. counties, where 28% of Americans live.

These new recommendations don’t change the requirement that masks be worn on public transport and indoors at stations, bus stops, and train stations. The CDC guidelines aren’t binding for indoor spaces other than public transportation. This means that cities and institutions may establish their own rules, even those in low-risk areas. The agency also stated that masks should not be removed from people with COVID-19 symptoms or are favorable for the disease.

The CDC stated that the overall risk of severe disease has fallen due to increased immunity from infection and vaccination.

In a news conference, Dr. Rochelle Wilensky, Director of the CDC, said that Anyone is welcome to wear a face mask if it makes them feel more secure. “We want to ensure that our hospitals are safe and that people don’t come in with severe diseases. … Anyone can visit the CDC website to find out the number of conditions in their area and make that determination.

Since July, CDC’s transmission-prevention guidance to neighborhoods has centered on the rate of new COVID-19 cases and the percentage of positive test results over the previous week.

More than 3,000 of America’s 3,200 counties were classified as having high or significant transmission this week. This is more than 95%. Based on these measures, officials from the agency advised people to wear masks indoors if there was a substantial or high spread of the virus.

However, this guidance is increasingly being ignored by states, cities, and counties across the U.S., who announced plans to eliminate mask mandates amid falling COVID-19 hospitalizations, deaths, and COVID-19 case numbers.

Andrew Noymer, a professor of public health at the University of California Irvine, stated that the CDC’s shift would not make much difference as Americans are already taking off their masks. He said that it would be helpful if the next wave, likely to occur in the fall or winter, threatens hospital capacity.

“There will be more COVID waves. Neymar stated that it was sensible to allow people to take a break from masking. “If we keep giving masking orders, it might become a joke when we need them.”

The CDC offers a color-coded mapping service to assist residents and local officials. It includes counties designated as either orange, yellow, or green. Local officials in green counties can remove indoor masking regulations. People at high risk of severe diseases should be cautious if they are yellow. The CDC recommends that masking should be done in all places.

The rate at which a county is deemed green, yellow, or orange depends on the number of COVID-19 patient admissions and the percentage of hospital beds. It also determines the rate of new cases within the community.

In the United States, mask requirements have been lifted in many places in recent weeks. Los Angeles allowed people to take off their masks indoors on Friday if they were vaccinated. In March, Washington and Oregon will lift indoor mask requirements.

Florida’s governor announced Thursday’s new recommendations, “Buck the CDC,” that discourage wearing masks as a sign of the political divisions surrounding shows.

Dr. Marcus Plescia of The Association of State and Territorial Health Officials stated that state health officials are generally happy with the new guidance and are “excited about how this is being implemented.”

“This is where we should go. Plescia stated that this is moving us in a new direction regarding the pandemic. But we are still focusing on safety. We are still focusing on the prevention of death and illness.

The CDC stated that the new system could predict future surges. It also urged communities with wastewater surveillance systems to use this data.