Defense Department Now Requires Masks Indoors, Regardless of Vaccination Status

A Newsweek story reporting that the Department of Defense is now requiring people, regardless of vaccination status, to wear masks inside all of its facilities quotes UB infectious disease expert Thomas Russo, who spoke about the process of FDA approval for the vaccines, which is expected soon. WBFO also interviewed Russo in a story about the possibility of the indoor masking requirement returning to Erie County. Russo said the spread of COVID-19 has largely been through the unvaccinated. “We've been using the honor system and it’s clear that at least in certain parts of the country, in certain venues the honor system really hasn't been getting that done,” Russo said. “So the mask mandates is primarily about making sure that the unvaccinated wear masks in high risk scenarios where we know this virus spreads very well.”