CDC To Significantly Ease Pandemic Mask Guidelines Friday

WASHINGTON (AP/CBS) -- The Biden administration will significantly loosen federal mask-wearing guidelines to protect against COVID-19 transmission on Friday, according to two people familiar with the matter.

That will mean most Americans will no longer be advised to wear masks in indoor public settings.

The new metrics will still consider caseloads, but also take into account hospitalizations and local hospital capacity. Under the new guidelines, the vast majority of Americans will no longer live in areas where indoor masking in public is recommended based on current data.

Earlier this month, Massachusetts changed its advisory on face masks, recommending them for unvaccinated people and for those with underlying conditions or other risk factors. The statewide mask mandate in Massachusetts schools ends on Feb. 28.

(© Copyright 2022 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)