New CDC Covid-19 Guidelines
The CDC published new Covid Pandemic health guidelines last week and they are based on a combination of 3 metrics in order to calculate the Covid-19 community level.
The 3 metrics used for the calculation are the number of Covid cases, the number of hospitalizations, and the number of hospital beds being used. Once the names of your state and county are entered into the CDC online program, the level of infection in your county is determined as low, medium, or high. Then based on your community level, guidelines for protection are listed. Fill in your state and county at this link. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/your-health/covid-by-county.html The calculation is based on:
1.) Number of new admissions per 100,000 population in past 7 days
2.) Percent of staffed inpatient beds occupied by Covid-19 patients
3.) Total number of cases per 100,000 population in the past 7 days
If your county is LOW (green), the prevention steps are: Stay up to date with Covid vaccines which means 2 doses plus a booster. Get tested if you have symptoms.
If your county is MEDIUM (yellow), the prevention steps are: If you are at high risk for severe illness, talk to your healthcare provider about whether you need to wear a mask and take other precautions, stay up to date with Covid-19 vaccines (2 doses plus a booster), get tested if you have symptoms.
If your county level is HIGH (orange), the prevention steps are: Wear a mask indoors in public, Stay up to date with Covid-19 vaccines, Get tested if you have symptoms. Additional precautions may be needed for people at high risk for severe illness.
People MAY wear a mask at any time, but people with symptoms, a positive test, or exposure to someone with Covid-19 SHOULD wear a mask. See Below
The CDC has an expanded version of this information at the following link - including information for immunocompromised people. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/science/community-levels.html
In an article I read they estimate that 70% of the US is currently in the green or yellow category. https://www.cnn.com/2022/02/25/health/cdc-covid-metrics-mask-guidance/index.html