Still a lot unknown about contagious BA.2 variant, health officials still urge caution [View all]

WASHINGTON (TND) — Masking guidelines are coming back into focus as Americans are being asked to mask up while traveling and local health officials reconsider loosened restrictions.

The federal transportation mask mandate was extended for an additional 15 days on Wednesday, and Philadelphia became the first major city to reinstate an indoor mask requirement on Monday.

Both decisions come as the BA.2 subvariant of omicron is sending COVID-19 case counts higher across the country. Hospitalizations have stayed low in most places, but public health officials are asking for caution and time to study what the highly transmissible subvariant’s impact on severe illness will be.

In the announcement of the extension in the federal transit mandate, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said BA.2 makes up more than 85% of U.S. infections and there have been increases in the seven-day moving average of cases.

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