The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Friday’s announcement, came just before President Biden’s State of the Union Address on Monday.

The CDC did not make any changes in the science of coronavirus transmission. It lowered the bar by recommending new guidance. This places more than half the U.S. states under a low or moderate risk of contracting the virus. NBC News reported that this accounts for about 70% of Americans.

Dr. Rochelle Wilensky spoke out about the CDC’s mask-wearing policy, which has changed over the past two years.

She said that “We are in a stronger position today as a nation having more tools to protect us,” and she also spoke about vaccines created by the Trump administration.

According to the Transportation Security Administration, masks are still required for federal transportation. However, children cannot be seen hiding at schools. The science of transmission is not changing since the outbreak.

Biden will deliver his State of the Union speech Tuesday, as a result of the CDC’s revised guidelines. Biden is expected to declare once more that he defeated the Chinese virus, as he did in the summer before the country was struck by the Omicron and Delta variants.

As anticipation builds for Biden’s speech and as Russia’s 40-year-high inflation pounds the country, there are fears that further shocks will be triggered to the global financial market. Last week, the CDC suggested that mask guidance might change despite the constant science of coronavirus transmission.

“We want people to be able to take a break from mask-wearing when these metrics improve and to have the option to get them if things get worse. Walensky stated that if and when we update the guidance, it will be communicated clearly and based on science and data.