FAQ: What do the latest CDC guidelines mean for the DC region?

The CDC has announced new recommendations that vaccinated people should resume wearing masks indoors in parts of the United States where the coronavirus is on the rise. The CDC has also recommended indoor masks for all teachers, staff, students and visitors to schools, regardless of their immunization status, citing new information on the ability of the delta variant to spread among some people. vaccinated.

Most new infections in the United States continue to involve unvaccinated people. So-called “breakthrough” infections, which usually cause milder illness, can occur in people who are vaccinated.

The CDC tracks community transmission based on two indicators: the total number of cases in the past seven days per 100,000 population and the positive rate of coronavirus tests in a given area over the past seven days.

The case indicator per 100,000 is broken down into four levels:

• Low transmission: 0 to 9.99 cases per 100,000 people in the last seven days
• Moderate transmission: 10 to 49.99 cases per 100,000 people in the last seven days
• Significant transmission: 50 to 99.99 cases per 100,000 people in the last seven days
• High transmission: 100 or more cases per 100,000 people in the last seven days

The positivity rate indicator also breaks down into four levels:

• Low transmission: 0 -4.99% positivity rate
• Moderate transmission: positivity rate of 5 to 7.99%
• High transmission rate: 8-9.99%
• High transmission rate: greater than 10%

Community transmission rates are monitored by the CDC.

The CDC recommends looking at the data at the county level.

As of August 4, here are the areas with transmission rates considered substantial or high by CDC category, according to CDC data.

CC

DC – 79.06 cases

VIRGINIA

• City of Alexandria – 72.76
• Arlington – 72.76
• Fairfax County – 52.90
• Loudoun County – 69.40
• Prince William County – 76.97
• Stafford County – 111.20

MARYLAND

• Charles County – 80.24
• Frederick County – 54.33
• Prince George County – 69.06

New CDC policies recommend indoor mask-wearing coverage cases where significant and high transmission occurs.

CDC guidelines recommend wearing a mask indoors in areas of high or high transmission, regardless of immunization status. However, it is up to each jurisdiction to re-impose warrants that people wear face coverings.

In DC, a new indoor mask prescription, regardless of vaccination status, will go into effect July 31 at 5 a.m., Mayor Muriel Bowser said.

In Virginia, Gov. Ralph Northam has recommended that Virginians “consider” wearing masks indoors where there is an increased risk of COVID-19 transmission indicated by new CDC guidelines. “This is not a requirement, but a recommendation,” he said.

In a July 27 announcement, the city of Alexandria announced that it also has a high level of transmission. “Because Alexandria is currently in a state of significant transmission and exceeds 50 new cases per 100,000 population in the past seven days, masks must be worn in indoor public places,” the city said in a press release. .

In Maryland, Anne Arundel County announced that masks will soon be mandatory indoors in all buildings owned by the county, regardless of people’s immunization status and, starting next month, all employees of the county will either need to show proof of vaccination or take weekly COVID-19 tests before reporting for work.

In Prince George County, Director Angela Alsobrooks announced the county is instituting COVID-19 security protocols in government buildings for employees. Masks will also be required inside all county government buildings starting August 6 at 5 p.m.

Montgomery County officials will meet on August 5 on a new health ordinance that would automatically require face coverings in indoor public spaces if the county hits the CDC threshold for substantial spread.

Gaithersburg and Rockville, in Montgomery County, are once again requiring visitors and staff to city buildings to wear masks, regardless of their immunization status.

In Virginia, a spokeswoman for Governor Ralph Northam said the state has no plans to require vaccination at this time. “The facts show that vaccines are very effective in protecting Virginians against this serious virus – over 98% of hospitalizations and over 99% of deaths have been among unvaccinated Virginians,” Northam’s office said. In Fairfax County, the supervisory board will decide within the next two weeks whether it will require its 12,000 employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19.

Neither DC nor Maryland officials responded to emails asking if government employees would be required to get vaccinated.

DC Attorney General Karl Racine has demanded that every employee in his office be vaccinated against COVID-19.

Officials in Anne Arundel County, Md., Announced that starting September 13, all county employees will either be required to show proof of vaccination or take weekly COVID-19 tests before reporting to work .

Officials in Prince George County, Md., Said new policies and a schedule, currently under development, will require county employees who come to the office to be vaccinated or regularly tested. of COVID-19. The administration is currently working with the Office of Human Resource Management to determine the criteria as the county government continues its return to work plan. This information will be forthcoming, according to a statement.

The CDC recommends that all students wear masks at school.

In the face of new CDC guidelines and the start of the approaching school year, more and more DC area school districts are making decisions about what to do.

Maryland

In Maryland, the large public school systems in the OMCP Listening Zone require masks in school buildings, regardless of immunization status.

Anne Arundel, Charles, Frederick, Howard, Montgomery County and Prince George Counties in Maryland require masks to be worn in school buildings. In addition, student-athletes at Charles County public schools are now required to provide proof that they have been fully immunized or participate in a COVID-19 screening program to participate in fall sports.

DC Public Schools also requires masks in its school buildings.

In Virginia, the school systems in Arlington County, Alexandria City, Fairfax County, Loudoun County and Prince William County also require masks for students.

Stafford County will temporarily require teachers, students and staff to wear masks indoors for the first 30 days of school this fall. Board member Irene Hollerback said it would give them time to review the measures and develop a long-term plan. Later this month, the council will also consider an opt-out form for parents who don’t want their children to wear masks.

The CDC revised its mask-wearing guidelines due to new outbreaks of COVID-19 in the United States in areas where people remain largely unvaccinated, coupled with the ability of the more virulent delta variant to spread – even among vaccinated people.

The CDC said “breakthrough” infections, which usually cause milder illness, can still occur in people who are vaccinated. With the delta variant, the level of virus in infected vaccinated people is “indistinguishable” from the level of virus in the nose and throat of unvaccinated people, CDC director Rochelle P. Walensky said on Tuesday.

Worcester County, Maryland, where Ocean City is located, has achieved substantial community transmission as defined by the CDC.

Sussex County, where Rehoboth, Bethany and Fenwick are located, also experiences significant transmission.