U.S. Surgeon General discusses omicron, masks and mental health --AP interview

Q&A: Surgeon General on omicron, masks and mental health WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy says he can imagine a future where Americans don't have to contend with mask requirements. But pulling back safeguards too quickly, Murthy warns, risks more avoidable suffering, especially for people with weakened immune systems or other vulnerabilities. AP NEWS

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In an interview this week with The Associated Press, Murthy also shared his concerns about the pandemic’s impact on the mental wellbeing of youth. He’s the father of two young children. Growing up, he witnessed the toll of unresolved mental health problems.

Some of Murthy’s comments:

A FUTURE WITHOUT MASKS

“I can imagine that future. I can’t tell you if it’s coming in a couple of months or in six months or in 12 months.

“What I can tell you is that to live that future, we are going to need the tools that we’ve been building over the last year. We’re going to need readily available vaccines and therapeutics ... we’re going to need those freely available high-quality masks and tests, and we’re going to also need the right mindset recognizing that COVID is not going to disappear overnight. ...

EBB AND FLOW OF THE PANDEMIC ...

MENTAL HEALTH CARE IN BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES ...