The CDC changes indoor mask guidance. Here’s what Georgia residents should know
Most Georgia residents no longer need to wear masks indoors based on new guidance issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention last week.
The CDC recommends people use its “COVID-19 Community Level” data when determining where and when to wear masks:
Those who live in a low community level of COVID should wear a mask based on their personal preference
People in a medium community level should wear a mask if they or someone they live with is immunocompromised or at high risk for severe illness
If the community level is high, people should wear masks indoors in public, regardless of vaccination status or risk
The new recommendations by the CDC do not change the current federal travel requirements, so masks are required when using public transportation, airplanes and indoor transportation hubs.
In addition to changing the mask guidelines, the CDC has also updated the framework it uses to determine the level of COVID-19 in a community, calculating the number of hospital beds being used, hospital admissions and the total number of new COVID-19 cases in the area. This is a change from the previous framework that used the number of cases and test positivity to evaluate the risk of COVID-19.
“We’re in a stronger place today as a nation with more tools to protect ourselves in our communities from COVID-19, like vaccination, boosters, broader access to testing, availability of high-quality masks, accessibility to new treatments and improved ventilation,” CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said during a Feb. 25 briefing.
In Georgia, more than 6.5 million people (63%) of the population has received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, and more than 5.7 million people (55%) are fully vaccinated, according to the Georgia Department of Public Health.
As of March 1, the state reported there were 16,024 new cases of COVID in the last month, at a two-week case rate of 148 cases per 100,000. The test positivity rate for the state over the last two weeks is 4.8%.
The DPH website has an interactive map that can be used to show levels of spread at the county level, West Central Health District spokesperson Pam Kirkland wrote in a statement.
People may go to the COVID-19 dashboard to find the map and choose “PCR Cases” for the “Last 2 Weeks” to view the levels. Gray and yellow represent low and medium spread, she said, and red reflects a high level
The CDC also has an interactive map showing COVID-19 community levels by county. Under the new framework, more than 70% of Americans live in a location with low or medium community levels, according to the CDC.
How new mask guidelines affect Columbus and surrounding areas
The community level for Muscogee, Chattahoochee and Harris counties is medium, according to the CDC. Lee and Russell counties in Alabama also have medium community levels.
“Those who are at high risk for severe illness and in a medium spread community should talk to their healthcare provider about the need for wearing a mask indoors,” Kirkland said. “Masks are not recommended for use outdoors.”
Hospitals in Columbus and East Alabama have reported that hospitalizations from the omicron surge have gone down as some recently relaxed their visitation policies.
During the latest wave of cases, Columbus hospital officials said that the severity of the disease was less than in previous strains, and patients experienced shorter hospital stays.
The two-week case rate for Muscogee County is the lowest that it’s been since November, with 87 cases per 100,000 people, as of March 1. The county is reporting 167 new COVID cases in the last two weeks.
Over 93,000 people (48%) in Muscogee County have received at least one dose of the vaccine, and just under 83,000 people (42%) are fully vaccinated, as of March 1.
Now that COVID cases are dropping in the community, the Columbus Health Department has moved drive-thru testing back to its location at 5601 Veterans Parkway on Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Those who get tested at this location do not need to pre-register.
Drive-thru testing is also available at the Shirley B. Winston Recreation Center at 5025 Steam Mill Road, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The health department encourages people who choose this testing site to pre-register online.
This story was originally published March 2, 2022 at 11:29 AM.
