CDC classifies Hartford and New London counties as high COVID transmission areas | Connecticut news

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(WFSB) – People in Hartford and New London counties must wear masks, regardless of their vaccination status.

This message comes from the CDC.

(Image provided by CDC)

Just yesterday, the CDC came out with their mask guidance.

Counties with “large” or “high” levels of community transmission have been advised to wear masks indoors.

Yesterday, no Connecticut county met that requirement. We were all either in the blue or yellow categories.

Today, twenty-four hours later, the counties of New London and Hartford meet the requirements.

“I know this is a difficult pill for a lot of people to swallow, and it certainly makes me, as a public health official, a little anxious and uncomfortable about things,” says Professor Anthony Santella of the University of New Haven.

We asked Professor Santella of the University of New Haven Health Management and Policy how life should change if you lived in these counties.

“I think everyone should make the mistake of being careful and going back to the things we used to do last year in terms of health monitoring, wearing masks and hand hygiene,” Santella explained.

While the recommendations come from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it will be up to local leaders to implement and enforce them, but so far, no action has been taken at the city or state level.

“A lot of workplaces, soon, schools and universities are waiting for this guidance. The CDC can recommend whatever they want, but until it gets activated at the local level, it doesn’t mean much,” Santella noted.

Although our case count is headed in the wrong direction, with a sixty-three percent vaccination rate in our state, there is no indication that things will return to the strict lockdowns seen over a year ago.

The advice tonight is to be vigilant.

“I hate to say we’ve taken a few steps back, but that’s where we are now. Until more people are vaccinated, this will be our life,” Santella added.

We reached out to Mayor Bronnen for a statement regarding the CDC’s recommendation.

We have not received any response.

We are also working to obtain data from the state on the breakdown of cases between vaccinated and unvaccinated.

Copyright 2021 WFSB (The Meredith Corporation). All rights reserved.

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