CDC Mask Guidance Now Varies By State, Locality

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has announced new guidelines for wearing masks to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The outline calls for different protocols in different parts of the country based on key metrics, including hospitalization rates, at a county level.

People who have tested positive for COVID-19, who have COVID-like symptoms, or who have been exposed to someone with COVID should wear a mask regardless of the risk level in their county, however.

In roughly 28 percent of the country where hospitalizations rates are high, masks are still recommended in public indoor settings. In the rest of the country where hospitalization rates are at a low or medium level, masks are not recommended for the general public. (In areas at a medium level, however, people at higher risk — who are older or who have preexisting conditions — are encouraged to talk to their doctor about wearing a mask.)

To help residents, employers, schools, and other entities understand what the recommendations are in their state, the CDC also launched a new tool that offers the latest data in their community.

Residents in areas where hospitalization is low are recommended to stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines and get tested if they have symptoms.

Residents in medium transmission areas are recommended to:

• Talk to their healthcare provider about whether they need to wear a mask and take other precautions if they are at high risk for severe illness;
• Stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines; and
• Get tested if they have symptoms.

Residents in high-risk areas are recommended to:

• Wear a mask indoors in public;
• Stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines;
• Get tested if they have symptoms; and
• Take additional precautions if they are high risk for severe illness.

Click here to see the CDC’s general COVID-19 guidance for businesses and workplaces.