Masks

South Africa repeals COVID rules as fifth wave fades South Africa has repealed COVID-19 rules that made masks mandatory in indoor public spaces, limited the size of gatherings and imposed entry requirements at its borders, the health minister said on Thursday. Alexander Winning,Anait Miridzhanian Reuters

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Airborne transmission of monkeypox 'has not been reported,' CDC says The spread of monkeypox through small virus particles that linger in the air "has not been reported," the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in guidance posted Thursday. It may spread through "saliva or respiratory secretions" during face-to-face contact, but these secretions "drop out of the air quickly," and studies have found that this method of transmission seems uncommon. Katherine Dillinger, CNN CNN

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NYC health chief: Wear masks indoors; 'high' COVID alert level coming New York City is approaching a ‘high’ level of COVID-19 alert, according to Health Commissioner Ashwin Vasan. In a tweet issued Monday morning, Vasan said he was urging all New Yorkers to wear a mask while indoors. FOX 5 NY FOX 5 New York

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Raising the alert level from medium to high indicates an increased and significant level of community spread. 

EU lifts mask requirement for air travel as pandemic ebbs BERLIN (AP) — The European Union will no longer require masks to be worn at airports and on planes starting next week amid the easing of coronavirus restrictions across the bloc, authorities said Wednesday. AP NEWS

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While the new recommendations take effect on May 16, rules for masks may still vary by airline beyond that date if they fly to or from destinations where the rules are different. ...