“There’s no place for them in light of Omicron.”
CNN medical analyst Leana Wen said Monday on the network that cloth face masks are not effective against the Omicron variant, urging listeners to wear surgical masks instead.
Speaking about the upcoming New Year’s Eve ball drop in Times Square, Wen said that those attending the event should get vaccine booster shots and make sure they wear a mask.
“Make sure that you’re vaccinated and boosted,” she said on CNN. “Make sure that you’re wearing a mask even though it’s outdoors. There are lots of people packed around you, wearing a three-ply surgical mask.”
“Don’t wear a cloth mask,” Wen continued. “Cloth masks are little more than facial decorations. There’s no place for them in light of Omicron.”
Wen said the New Year’s Eve celebration should not be canceled since it takes place outdoors and everyone there is required to be vaccinated.
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