Masks With Vents Don't Prevent Spread Of Coronavirus, CDC Warns

ACROSS AMERICA — The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is now warning against wearing one form of mask, suggesting that wearing ones with exhalation valves or vents would actually speed up the spread the coronavirus rather than prevent it.

"Masks with exhalation valves or vents should NOT be worn to help prevent the person wearing the mask from spreading COVID-19 to others (source control)," the CDC has added to its guidance on masks.

The organization continues to urge wearing other forms of masks when in public, however. The CBD "recommends that people wear masks in public settings and when around people who don’t live in your household, especially when other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain."

The new guidance comes as the coronavirus pandemic enters its sixth month, and some states continue to set daily records for both number of new cases reported and deaths.

Three Southeastern states — Florida, Georgia and Kentucky — have again set new one-day records.

Kentucky on Wednesday reported 1,163 new cases. Florida reported 276 new deaths Tuesday, and Georgia reported 125 the same day.

Florida is second when it comes to highest positivity rates with 17.17 percent, falling behind only Texas at 24.23 percent, according to Johns Hopkins University data. Maine and Connecticut have the lowest positivity rates, at 0.45 percent and 0.77 percent, respectively.

In all, 38 states remain above the positive testing rate recommended by the World Health Organization to safely reopen. To safely reopen, WHO recommends states remain at 5 percent or lower for at least 14 days.

The virus continues to take its toll on sports. Three major collegiate conferences have now postponed their fall sports seasons. The Big East decision to put off all fall sports until possibly the spring on Wednesday came a day after the Big Ten and Pac-12 opted to do the same.

But professional leagues like the MLB, NBA and NHL continue to play.

As of Wednesday morning, the U.S. coronavirus case count surpassed 5.1 million, while the death toll neared 165,000 people, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University.

---

Follow live coronavirus updates at The New York Times or Washington Post.

Read More From Across America:

• Sex Offender In Illinois Loses Coronavirus Contract: Report
  
• GA Sets Record For Most Coronavirus Deaths In A Day
• Most U.S. Schools Going Virtual Amid Coronavirus Pandemic
  
• Florida Coronavirus Update: 8,109 New Cases
  
• Free Coronavirus Testing Opens On Illinois Racetrack
  
• Dog In North Carolina Dies From COVID-19 Causing Virus
  
• Attorney: Coronavirus Cases At Tucson Prison Due To Conditions
• Santa Monica MUJI Stores Close Due To Pandemic
  
• Wife Died After Butcher Brought Coronavirus Home From Work: Lawsuit
  
• Teachers File Suit Over Concerns About Reopening Florida Schools
• Black, Hispanic Americans Twice As Likely As Whites To Say Schools Should Remain Closed
  
• Key Metrics Show Drop In New Coronavirus Cases In Pennsylvania