THE BOSTON GLOBE – Seven Massachusetts counties now have “high” community levels of COVID-19 and people in those areas should wear masks in indoor public spaces, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says.
The counties are Berkshire, Franklin, Worcester, Middlesex, Suffolk, Norfolk, and Barnstable, according to the CDC’s website, which rates virus levels in US counties as “a tool to help communities decide what prevention steps to take.”
Hampshire, Hampden, Essex, Plymouth, Dukes, and Nantucket counties are ranked as having “medium” levels. The only county still at “low” levels is Bristol.
The CDC determines community COVID-19 levels by looking at hospital beds being used, hospital admissions, and the total number of new COVID-19 cases in an area, according to the CDC website.
It recommends that people take greater precautions the higher the level. Masking in indoor public spaces, regardless of vaccination status, is only recommended by CDC when communities reach the “high” level, though the agency notes that people can wear masks at any level based on their personal preference.
WHAT’S THE COVID RATE IN YOUR STATE? CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT
COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations in Massachusetts have been rising gradually after a precipitous fall from the early days of this year, when the Omicron variant drove a deadly surge.
Experts have been concerned about the arrival of the Omicron subvariants BA.2 and BA.2.12.1 … READ MORE.
Entire state in medium or high category for COVID levels
By Rob Polansky, May. 6, 2022
HARTFORD, Conn. (WFSB) – All eight Connecticut counties are either in the medium or high categories when it comes to COVID-19 community levels.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updated its COVID-19 Community Levels Map on Thursday night.
Here is the CDC’s COVID-19 community levels map as of May 6.
Here is the CDC’s COVID-19 community levels map as of May 6.(covid.cdc.gov)
According to the state Department of Public Health, it was only a week ago that just New London County was listed in the medium/yellow category while the other seven counties were listed in the low/green category.
The COVID-19 Community Levels map, which was launched in late February, informs CDC recommendations on prevention measures, such as masking and testing, the DPH said … READ MORE.
