'Not out of the woods': CDC says large gatherings are a high COVID-19 risk, 'strongly encourages' face masks

As America opens – and large political gatherings are scheduled to begin – the CDC says, "Don't forget your mask!"

During its first full media briefing since March 9, top officials with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention urged Americans to continue taking precautions to prevent the spread of the coronavirus that causes the illness COVID-19, which has killed more than 115,000 people in the USA.

The pandemic is not over, said Dr. Jay Butler, the CDC’s deputy director of infectious diseases and COVID-19.

"The vast majority of Americans still have not been exposed to this virus,” he said.

The CDC released guidelines for safely holding and attending events and gatherings, as well as precautions to take when going out as lockdown orders that took effect nationwide in March are lifted. 

Though officials steered clear of specifically recommending against attending a political rally for President Donald Trump planned for June 20 in Tulsa, Oklahoma, the guidelines published by the agency put such events in the category of “highest risk” for COVID-19 infection.

The CDC calls out "large in-person gatherings where it is difficult for individuals to remain spaced at least 6 feet apart and attendees travel from outside the local area."

"The more people an individual interacts with at a gathering and the longer that interaction lasts, the higher the potential risk of becoming infected with COVID-19 and COVID-19 spreading," Friday's guidelines said.

During a 30-minute telephone call with reporters, CDC Director Robert Redfield acknowledged living under lockdown hasn't been easy and everyone is eager to get back to normal life. But that needs to happen safely to protect those most vulnerable to COVID-19.

“To the American people, I would like to say thank you for being the individual public health heroes we need right now to handle this pandemic,” Redfield said.

Butler said every activity that involves interacting with others has some degree of risk. 

“We recognize that we’re all getting tired of staying home, people long for the lives that they had back in December, and as we head into the summer months, we know that Americans look forward to reconnecting with family and friends and to be able to attend events, and we want that to occur as safely as possible,” he said. “We’re not out of the woods yet.” 

The rule of thumb, Butler said, is the closer you are to other people, the longer you interact with them and the more people involved in the interaction, the higher the chance of COVID-19 spread.

"The whole goal here is to continue to keep that curve as flattened as possible," he said.

The sign-up page for free tickets to Trump's rally in Tulsa did not say what measures would be taken to assure the safety of crowds or whether masks or social distancing would be required. It does come with a liability waiver that says the campaign or other parties associated with the event cannot be held liable for exposure to coronavirus.

“By clicking register below, you are acknowledging that an inherent risk of exposure to COVID-19 exists in any public place where people are present,” the waiver says.

Trump rallies have typically lasted for hours. Crowds wait in packed quarters for them to begin and stay for his speeches, which can extend for an hour or more.

The CDC guidelines note, "Cloth face coverings are strongly encouraged in settings where individuals might raise their voice (e.g., shouting, chanting, singing)."

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CDC suggestions for social distancing

• When dining out, see if there’s an option to sit outside, or ensure that tables are 6 feet apart. Before you go, call and ask if all staffers wear cloth face coverings while at work. Avoid items that are self-serve to limit the use of shared serving utensils.
• If you have a cookout, try to use disposable dishes and cutlery, practice hand hygiene and avoid sharing frequently touched items such as tongs, serving utensils and condiments. Remind guests to stay home if they’ve been exposed to COVID-19.   
• If you hit the gym, don’t share items that can’t be cleaned, and refrain from high fives and elbow bumps. Limit attendance at indoor group training sessions.
• When your library reopens, ask about possible curbside pickup of books.

Contributing: Michael Collins and David Jackson