If you wear a mask, you're protecting yourself as well as others from COVID-19, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in an update on Tuesday.
Why it matters: "Adopting universal masking policies can help avert future lockdowns, especially if combined with other non-pharmaceutical interventions such as social distancing, hand hygiene, and adequate ventilation," per the CDC.
- It is the strongest message yet on the importance of wearing face coverings to protect against the coronavirus.
Of note: Face masks became a partisan issue earlier in the year, but it has become less so as the pandemic rages on. Polls show a majority of Democrats and Republicans support wearing face coverings in public spaces.
- President-elect Joe Biden has implored people to wear face coverings, saying on Monday: "A mask is not a political statement, but it is a good way to start pulling the country together."
- President Trump and his allies have said the issue is one of individual responsibility.
The big picture: COVID-19 cases are surging across the U.S., which surpassed 10 million confirmed infections on Monday.
- The U.S. hit a record-high 130,989 new cases on Tuesday, while the number of people in hospitals across the country with the virus reached a peak of 61,964.
Go deeper: Universal mask use could save 130,000 lives in U.S.
Editor's note: This article has been updated with more details, including the stance of Biden and Trump on masks.
