Trevor Noah launched into a “viral rant” on The Daily Show last night, tearing into the CDC for its new mask guidelines, which reminded Americans that outdoor activities are safer than those indoors, but included a new chart that indicates what vaccinated and unvaccinated people can do at this point in the pandemic. The late night host dismissed the CDC’s new “trash” chart as “too complicated,” tearing into the federal agency for its mixed messaging.
“I have to sit here trying to interpret reds and yellows and greens, and outdoor, indoor, partial indoor, outdoor with the people who might be vaccinated, [or] partially vaccinated. This is unreadable,” he vented, joking, “Who designed this chart? The same people who designed those parking signs in L.A.?”
Noah also pointed out that the CDC has been pushing Americans to get vaccinated, but their latest guidance isn’t providing much of an incentive. “The really frustrating thing about this chart is that they’ve spent five months telling us to get vaccinated. ‘Oh, get vaccinated and this will all be over. Get vaccinated!’” he said. “And I was like, ‘Great, I’ll get all the four vaccines if it means I’ll get my life back.”
“Now they’re putting out a chart that says even if you get vaccinated, you can only do two more things without a mask on? Two? Guys, what the hell? The shit you’re saying to people is incoherent. You’re telling us these new vaccines are 95% effective and will stop coronavirus, but we still can’t do anything without a mask on anyway?”
Exasperated, Noah asked, “Which is it? Is this one of the most effective vaccines in the history of the world, or does it not work? It’s not clear messaging, especially if you’re desperately trying to convince people to get the vaccine.”
Noah acknowledged that the CDC “is just trying to cover all of the bases” if there’s “a tiny chance you could get corona even if you’re vaccinated.” But he insisted it does more harm than good. “If that messaging ends up convincing people that there’s not much of a reason to get vaccinated at all, then we’re shooting ourselves in the foot.”
The Daily Show with Trevor Noah airs weeknights at 11/10c on Comedy Central. Watch the full segment from last night’s episode in the video above.
