These 12 New York State counties should return to indoor masks, CDC says (update)

Twelve counties in New York state are now expected to resume wearing masks indoors, according to new guidelines from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The CDC said on Tuesday that people should resume wearing masks indoors in “substantial” areas (orange areas on map above) and the “high” transmission (red) of Covid-19. That includes places with at least 50 new cases per 100,000 people over the past week, or nearly two-thirds of US counties.

This means that residents of three counties in upstate New York – Greene County, Saratoga County and Warren County – should now wear masks even if they are vaccinated, according to the latest data available. Thursday. Greene County has seen a 5.45% positivity rate in the past seven days, while Saratoga County has a 4.5% positivity rate and Warren County has jumped to 1.87% against 0.45% a month ago.

Less than 50% of residents of Greene County, located in the Catskills region, are fully vaccinated. Warren County, located north of Saratoga Springs and Albany, has vaccinated about 61% of its residents, and neighboring Saratoga County has vaccinated 62%.

The CDC says nine upstate counties should also wear masks indoors, including New York and Long Island. Richmond County is currently experiencing “high” transmission, while everyone else is seeing “substantial” spread of the coronavirus.

On Thursday, the list of counties in New York state where vaccinated people should resume wearing masks indoors due to “substantial” or “high” transmission of Covid-19:

• Bronx County
• Greene County
• Kings County
• Nassau County
• New York County
• Orange County
• Queens County
• Richmond County
• Saratoga County
• Suffolk County
• Warren County
• Westchester County

Governor Andrew Cuomo has no new Covid rules issued, but said on Tuesday that New York state was closely reviewing the CDC’s new recommendations in consultation with federal and state health experts.

“New Yorkers have fended off Covid before – going from the world’s highest positivity rate to one of the lowest – by staying smart, following the science and supporting each other, and that’s exactly what we will continue to do so in this next phase of the pandemic, ”Cuomo said.

CDC director Dr Rochelle Walensky said the CDC’s new recommendation is largely due to the more transmissible Delta variant, which accounted for 83% of Covid cases in the United States last week. At New York, 72% of recent Covid cases are of the Delta variant.

CNN notes that when the CDC previously updated its guidelines in May to tell people vaccinated to unmask themselves, the Delta variant only accounted for 1% of infections.

Most new infections in the United States continue to involve unvaccinated people. So-called “breakthrough” infections, which usually cause milder illness, can occur in people who have been vaccinated.

Walensky said new unpublished data that emerged in recent days shows that vaccinated people infected with the Delta variant may have as many viruses as those who are not. Although rare, people who are vaccinated still have the potential to spread Covid and become ill themselves from groundbreaking infections.

“This new science is worrying and unfortunately deserves an update in our recommendations,” Walensky told media on Tuesday. “It’s worrying enough that we feel like we need to act. “

The CDC has also recommended indoor face coverings for teachers, staff, students and visitors to all schools across the country, regardless of immunization status. Children under 12 still cannot be vaccinated and a large number of children under 18 are still not vaccinated.

The CDC’s recommendation for unvaccinated people remains the same nationwide: Continue to wear a mask until you get the vaccine. And masks are still recommended for all people in crowded indoor environments, such as buses, planes, hospitals, prisons, and homeless shelters.

Note: This story has been updated to include Saratoga County, which the CDC listed on Thursday as a “substantial” transmission area.

MORE ABOUT CORONAVIRUS

Coronavirus in New York: cases, maps, charts and resources

Covid-19 cases on the rise in Cayuga County; many will not help contact the plotters

Frustrated NY Schools Want Cuomo To Produce Covid Reopening Rules; how many children can get on a bus?

Some unions push back vaccine mandate for New York workers

Full coronavirus coverage at syracuse.com