Polls continue to show white people are far less likely to take #COVID precautions.
% who have changed behavior due to news of increases of COVID (inc. wearing a mask or avoiding high risk spaces):
Black 59%
Hispanic 52%
White 29%
Source: https://www.kff.org/coronavirus-covid-19/poll-finding/kff-covid-19-vaccine-monitor-september-2023/
COVID impacts Black and Brown communities the hardest.
Communities of color are far more likely to take COVID precautions such as wearing a mask or avoiding high risk spaces.
If you care about racial justice, you should be continuing to take actions to mitigate COVID spread.
Overall, 4 in 10 people in the US have taken recent precautions (inc. masking or avoiding spaces) because of increases of COVID-19.
Imagine how many more would if instead of minimizing, the government told them it was important to continue precautions.
https://www.kff.org/coronavirus-covid-19/poll-finding/kff-covid-19-vaccine-monitor-september-2023/
@luckytran The government has lost its authority and has in fact acquired a kind of "anti-athority" where people upset with past actions by the government will go out of their way to defy and distort government messaging. Anyone who would listen to a CDC message about additional precautions is likely already on your 40%. Why set off the starting gun of anti-government rhetoric for a small number of people who might listen to more than what is already being said?
I promise you there are a lot of smart well informed people in the Biden administration and they know that they are doing playing this low key. It is not just political, it is valid social science. When the government faces a hostile lack of authority, the worst thing to do is press that authority and loose.
@antares I think you're mistaken about that. I live in a very blue city and send my kid to a progressive preschool. The parents and teachers there are exactly the sort of people who'd take increased precautions if they were told they needed to. No one is telling them anything, though, so they're not doing anything.
We've had five confirmed COVID cases since Labor Day.
@KeithAmmann A very progressive school in a very blue city like this [Morris Brown College in Atlanta](https://www.newsweek.com/atlanta-college-covid-backlash-mask-mandate-end-1824229)?
Are you ready to drop your children off at a school surrounded by "[We Will Not Comply](https://www.newsweek.com/mask-mandate-comeback-sparks-no-comply-movement-1823859)" protests, because that will be the result of new mask mandates. There are [a lot of upset people looking for a fight](https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/we-will-find-you-tennessee-parents-protest-school-mask-mandate-n1276601). I think the CDC as well as local governments and school board would do well not to give them one.
Let parents know that there has been in increase in Covid community spread and ask people to take appropriate precautions. Those who will listen will understand what that means.
@KeithAmmann @antares not only that, but waiting until cases rise before acting is the very opposite of "precaution"
Truly precautionary behavior is inherently proactive/preventative, not reactive
@antares No, not like that.
And "appropriate precautions" is weak and toothless language. People look to the relevant health authorities to tell them what precautions are appropriate. If they don't hear anything, they assume they don't need to do anything.