While the CDC has eased its mask-wearing requirements, there are still more than 470 counties across the country where masks are recommended, due to high COVID-19 case numbers.
That’s according to the latest data from the CDC.
Experts tell CNNthat many places that have high COVID-19 levels have low vaccination rates, limited access to health resources or may still be dealing with the contagious omicron variant.
Some of those counties never had mask mandates in place or lifted mask mandates early in the pandemic.
The CDC recommends people wear masks indoors if they live in counties with high levels of COVID-19.
Severity levels are determined by the number of new COVID-19 hospital admissions and inpatient beds occupied.
About 7% of the population in the U.S. lives in an area with high COVID-19 numbers, which is a decrease from last week.
CDC imepunguza mahitaji ya kuvaa barakoa, lakini bado kuna kaunti zaidi ya 470 nchini kote ambapo barakoa zinapendekezwa, kwa sababu ya idadi kubwa ya kesi za COVID-19. Hiyo ni kulingana na data ya hivi karibuni kutoka CDC. Wataalamu wa afya wanasema maeneo mengi yenye viwango vya juu vya COVID-19 yana viwango vya chini vya chanjo, upatikanaji mdogo wa rasilimali za afya au bado yanaweza kushughulika na aina ya omicron ya kuambukiza. Baadhi ya kaunti hizo hazikuwa na amri za kinyago au ziliondoa amri za kinyago mapema katika janga hilo. CDC inapendekeza watu kuvaa vinyago vya uso ndani ya nyumba ikiwa wanaishi katika kaunti zenye viwango vya juu vya COVID-19. Viwango vya ukali huamuliwa na idadi ya wagonjwa wapya wa COVID-19 waliopelekwa hospitalini na vitanda vya wagonjwa walioko. Karibu asilimia 7 ya watu nchini Marekani wanaishi katika maeneo yenye idadi kubwa ya watu walioambukizwa COVID-19, na idadi hiyo imepungua ikilinganishwa na wiki iliyopita.