Rock Co. achieves CDC’s highest level of community COVID-19 transmission

MADISON, Wisconsin (WMTV) – As more and more Wisconsin counties find themselves among the places where federal health agencies recommend people wear masks indoors, Rock Co. has crossed the category threshold. the most severe.

In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s latest COVID-19 community transmission map on Tuesday showed more counties fell into this highest category than ever since the agency updated its guidelines.

Under the latter notice, anyone, regardless of vaccination status, in a county classified as having a “high” level of community transmission or falling in the less severe “substantial” classification should wear a mask when found. in indoor public places or when going to private gatherings indoors.

The CDC’s advice was followed almost immediately by Public Health Madison and Dane Co. and the next day by the state’s Department of Health Services, urging people to wear masks. The warning from health officials at Dane Co. came before the county moved to the “substantial” category, where it remains with an overwhelming majority in southern Wisconsin.

The Rock Co. public health department also released updated mask guidance last week. In a statement released Friday, county health officials highlighted the increase in cases over the previous month as well as the increased presence of the more contagious Delta variant of the virus. At the time, they noted that the county had reached a level where masks are recommended and urged everyone, vaccinated or not, to wear a mask in public.

Additionally, the agency reminded everyone that while these latest guidelines are a recommendation, there are still places where masks are mandatory, including: healthcare facilities, airplanes, public transportation , correctional facilities and homeless shelters.

The health ministry added that it would continue to monitor CDC community transmission levels, but, citing the daily fluctuations in the map, officials said they only make policy decisions on a weekly basis. The map showed many counties increasing – and sometimes decreasing – between categories. However, the trend lines show that community transmission is getting worse as more counties move into the orange and red categories, meaning substantial and high transmission, respectively.

Columbia Co. Public Health rose to substantial level of community transmission on Tuesday, showing transmission of 10 to 50 cases per 100,000.

On Tuesday, DHS figures show the state recorded 1,391 new cases, the highest number since February and only the second time in more than four months that the total has reached four digits – the other time ago barely four days. The seven-day moving average also reached 854 cases per day over the past week, a level not seen in more than six months.

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