How CDC’s new mask guidelines for vaccination affect Michigan

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DETROIT — The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reversed course Tuesday on some masking guidelines, recommending that even vaccinated people return to wearing masks indoors in parts of the United States where the coronavirus is spreading.

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The CDC recommends that people who live in areas with “high” (red on the map) or “significant” (orange) spread of COVID-19 wear masks indoors, regardless of vaccination status. About 63% of US counties fall into this category as of July 27, according to the CDC’s data tracker, and most of them are in southern states. The entire state of Florida falls into the “high” risk category.

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The CDC recommends that people who live in areas with “high” or “significant” COVID-19 prevalence wear masks indoors, regardless of vaccination status. – July 27, 2021 (CDC)

In Michigan, only a few counties fall into the higher risk categories, but none are in Southeast Michigan. “Big” counties include Cass, Van Buren, Hillsdale, Mason, Calcasca, Albina, Iron and Gojbek counties. Branch and Dickinson counties fall into the “high” risk category.

Most states fall into the “moderate” prevalence category, with about 27% of the United States as a whole. COVID-19 cases in Michigan have surged over the past two weeks, with the 7-day average of cases tripling since July 1.

RELATED: Florida virus cases soar, hospitalizations near peak last summer

COVID Michigan: Here’s what you need to know on July 31, 2021

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The CDC has also recommended indoor masks for all teachers, staff, students and school visitors, regardless of vaccination status.

Most new infections in the United States are still among unvaccinated people. But “superbug” infections, which generally cause milder disease, can occur in vaccinated people. When earlier strains of the virus predominated, Dr. Rochelle Wallinsky, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said, people who were vaccinated were found to have lower levels of the virus and were less likely to spread the virus much.

With the delta variant, Walinsky said, the level of virus in vaccinated people was “indistinguishable” from the level of virus in the noses and throats of unvaccinated people.

Data for the past two days appeared from 100 samples. It is unpublished, and has not been released by the CDC. “It’s worrisome enough that we feel we have to act,” Walinsky said. And vaccinated people “have the potential to spread this virus to others,” she said.

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As of July 27, Michigan has not revised any statewide masking guidelines. The blanket mask mandate was lifted in June. There are currently no capacity restrictions in the state.

Read more: CDC reverses course on indoor masks in some parts of the US

Copyright 2021 by WDIV ClickOnDetroit / The Associated Press – All rights reserved.

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