The CDC changes indoor mask guidance. Here’s what Georgia residents should know
Most Georgia residents no longer need to wear masks indoors based on new guidance issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention last week.
The CDC recommends people use its “COVID-19 Community Level” data when determining where and when to wear masks:
Those who live in a low community level of COVID should wear a mask based on their personal preference
People in a medium community level should wear a mask if they or someone they live with is immunocompromised or at high risk for severe illness
If the community level is high, people should wear masks indoors in public, regardless of vaccination status or risk
The new recommendations by the CDC do not change the current federal travel requirements, so masks are required when using public transportation, airplanes and indoor transportation hubs.
In addition to changing the mask guidelines, the CDC has also updated the framework it uses to determine the level of COVID-19 in a community, calculating the number of hospital beds being used, hospital admissions and the total number of new COVID-19 cases in the area. This is a change from the previous framework that used the number of cases and test positivity to evaluate the risk of COVID-19.
“We’re in a stronger place today as a nation with more tools to protect ourselves in our communities from COVID-19, like vaccination, boosters, broader access to testing, availability of high-quality masks, accessibility to new treatments and improved ventilation,” CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said during a Feb. 25 briefing.
In Georgia, more than 6.5 million people (63%) of the population has received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, and more than 5.7 million people (55%) are fully vaccinated, according to the Georgia Department of Public Health.
As of March 1, the state reported there were 16,024 new cases of COVID in the last month, at a two-week case rate of 148 cases per 100,000. The test positivity rate for the state over the last two weeks is 4.8%.
The DPH website has an interactive map that can be used to show levels of spread at the county level, West Central Health District spokesperson Pam Kirkland wrote in a statement.
People may go to the COVID-19 dashboard to find the map and choose “PCR Cases” for the “Last 2 Weeks” to view the levels. Gray and yellow represent low and medium spread, she said, and red reflects a high level
The CDC also has an interactive map showing COVID-19 community levels by county. Under the new framework, more than 70% of Americans live in a location with low or medium community levels, according to the CDC.
This story was originally published March 3, 2022 at 1:40 PM with the headline "The CDC changes indoor mask guidance. Here’s what Georgia residents should know."
