The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has updated its masking guidelines for communities based on COVID-19 activity in the surrounding area. Although the new guidelines do not apply to healthcare settings, they effectively relax masking recommendations for about 70% of the country.  

Now masking and preventative measure guidelines are based on the number of positive cases in the area, as well as hospitalizations and hospital capacity, ranking from low to high. The CDC has established specific guidelines to follow for each level:  

Low—a small number of cases & limited impact on the healthcare system 

• Stay up to date on COVID vaccines  
• Get tested when experiencing illness  
• Masks are no longer required in indoor public settings  

Medium—more COVID cases & increased cases are starting to impact healthcare 

• Stay up to date on COVID vaccines 
• High-risk individuals* who are immunocompromised may choose to take additional precautions, such as wearing high-quality masks in indoor public settings  
• Masking is not required in indoor public settings  

High—many COVID cases & potentially a significant strain on the healthcare system 

• Everyone should wear masks indoors, in public, and in schools 

• Stay up to date on COVID vaccines 

Long-term care considerations 

Long-term care communities should continue to use community transmission rates and follow CDC’s infection prevention and control recommendations for healthcare settings. Masking is still required for healthcare professionals and visitors.   

While some urge relaxed masking guidelines in more areas, including healthcare systems, the American Medical Association said officials must consider the impact removing these mandates could have on immunocompromised and individuals not eligible for the COVID vaccine.  

Read more here.  

*For more information about who is considered high-risk and what they should know, refer to https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/need-extra-precautions/index.html.