NATIONAL

CDC Recommends Vaccinated People in Hot Spots to Wear Masks Indoors
Forbes reported on 7/27/21 that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updated its mask policy to recommend that all people wear masks in public indoor places in parts of the country with high rates of transmission. The CDC maintains a map indicating the transmission rates in counties in the United States, found here.  Red and orange indicate ‘’substantial transmission” and “high transmission.”   Areas of substantial transmission are considered by CDC to be those with 50 to 99 cases per 100,000 people over a 7-day period.  Areas of high transmission are considered to be those with more than 100 cases per 100,000 people over a 7-day period. The article notes that 63.4% of U.S. counties meet the CDC criteria. The agency also recommends masks for everyone in K-12 schools, not just in areas with high community transmission of the virus.  The CDC website states that COVID-19 vaccinated individuals should “to maximize protection from the Delta variant and prevent possibly spreading it to others, wear a mask indoors in public if you are in an area of substantial or high transmission.”  CDC requires nationwide that individuals wear a mask over the nose and mouth on planes, buses, trains, and other forms of public transportation traveling into, within, or out of the United States and while indoors at U.S. transportation hubs such as airports and stations. Travelers are not required to wear a mask in outdoor areas of a conveyance (like on open deck areas of a ferry or the uncovered top deck of a bus). Washington Post article

REGIONAL UPDATES

NORTHEAST

New York State
Governor Cuomo announced that the state is reviewing the CDC’s latest recommendations on mask wearing indoors in areas where the rate of infection is high and recommended (but has not yet mandated) indoor mask wearing regardless of vaccination status. As of this report, the state's mask-wearing mandate applied only to those in public spaces who are unvaccinated. 71.9% of New Yorkers age 18 or older have received at least one dose of the vaccine with 66.4% receiving two doses.

New York City announced mandatory vaccination for all city workers or will require weekly testing for those that choose not to get vaccinated starting Sept. 13.

Connecticut
Governor Lamont is considering travel restrictions for travelers coming from other states. The decision will be made in consultation with neighboring Governors. No new masking mandates for vaccinated individuals are under consideration. No counties have high enough transmission rates to meet the federal recommendations.

New Jersey
Eight counties in NJ fall under the CDC’s guidance for indoor mask wearing. Governor Murphy announced Tuesday, July 27, 2021 that the Health Department is reviewing the mask mandate in light of the delta variant spread. He tweeted that he would “strongly recommended” mask wearing indoors in high-risk settings.

Maine
Maine Governor Mills this afternoon announced that the state will follow the CDC’s recommendation that all that people wear masks in indoor, public settings in areas with “substantial” or “high” levels of community transmission. This currently includes York and Piscataquis counties.

Massachusetts
The Commonwealth ended its mask-order in late May; however masks are still required in certain settings such as healthcare facilities and by individuals using public and private (rideshare) transportation regardless of vaccination status.  Governor Baker announced he has no plans to bring back a statewide mask mandate. But with cases on the rise in recent days, some localities including Cape Cod, Cambridge and Provincetown, have issued mask advisories or requirements indoors regardless of vaccination status.

New Hampshire
Governor Sununu announced the state is not issuing any new mask orders. No counties have substantial or high transmission rates.

Vermont
The Health Commissioner reported on July 27 that the state is unlikely to be impacted by the CDC recommendations because of the state’s low transmission rate. With the highest vaccination rate in the country, 84% of the state’s eligible population (12 and over) has received the vaccine.

Rhode Island
None of Rhode Island's five counties have significant transmission for mask use to be federally recommended.

MID-ATLANTIC

Mayor Bowser Extends Public Emergency, but Ends Public Health Emergency
Last Saturday, Mayor Bowser issued Mayor’s Order 2021-096 to update and extend the District’s Public Emergency and end the Public Health Emergency. Moving forward, the Mayor retains the authority to: receive federal reimbursement, federal relief, and recovery grants; make personnel changes to respond to the emergency; alter government services; implement preventive measures for people who are medically vulnerable or experiencing homelessness; establish/extend emergency grant authority for DMPED; provide incentives to comply with public health recommendations; establish mask requirements; and establish vaccination requirements.

Ohio Governor DeWine Announces No Mask Mandate for Schools
On Monday, Governor DeWine announced he will not require masks in schools and encouraged everyone to get vaccinated. Click here for the full Ohio Department of Health guidance for schools.

Pennsylvania Governor Wolf Announces Students Will Not be Required to Wear Masks in Schools
On Tuesday, Governor Wolf announced he is not considering a statewide mask mandate and his administration said it is not requiring masks in schools.

Virginia Governor Northam Releases New School Mask Guidance and Leaves Decisions to Localities
Last week, the Virginia Department of Health and Education released mask guidance for the upcoming school year. The guidance ultimately lets the localities have the final say for mask mandates in their area. As of 7/28, Governor Northam said he is reviewing the new CDC guidance.

West Virginia Governor Justice Will Not Order a New Mask Mandate
On Tuesday, Governor Justice announced he would not order a new mask mandate for the state and encouraged individuals to get vaccinated.

MID-WEST

Illinois DPH aligns with New CDC recommendations; Governor Reauthorizes COVID-19 Orders
The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) announced 7/27/21 that it is fully adopting the new CDC masking recommendations to protect against COVID-19 and the Delta variant.  CDC recommends that everyone, including fully vaccinated individuals, wear a mask in public indoor setting in areas with “substantial transmission” and “high transmission”.   The Chicago Tribune reported that “As of Sunday, the most recent period for which data is available, that (areas of substantial and high transmission) included roughly two-thirds of Illinois’ 102 counties, predominantly in central and southern Illinois. In the Chicago area, only Will County met that threshold.” The CDC map shows counties in red and orange for substantial and high transmission rates.

Governor Pritzker on 7/23/21 issued an Emergency Disaster Proclamation and Executive Order 2021-15 that extends the expiration date of certain COVID-19 Executive Orders to August 21,  2021. The order also extends to August 21 Executive Order 2021-12 (Phase 5 reopening).  E.O. 2021-15 order notes that more than 23,400 Illinois residents have died due to COVID-19 since March 2020.

Indiana County Recommends Masks for Indianapolis Area
The Marion County Public Health Department, responding to a question from the Indianapolis Star, recommended that everyone in the Indianapolis area once again should mask up indoors in light of new federal recommendations. Article  The counties of Marion, Boone, Hendricks, Morgan, Johnson, Shelby and Hancock counties all have "substantial" levels of transmission of COVID-19.

Iowa Governor Criticizes Recent CDC Guidance on Masks
Governor Kim Reynolds issued a statement on 7/27/21 on the new CDC guidance on masks that recommends vaccinated individuals wear a mask indoors in public if they are in an area of substantial or high transmission. Governor Reynold stated that “The Biden Administration’s new COVID-19 guidance telling fully vaccinated Iowans to now wear masks is not only counterproductive to our vaccination efforts, but also not grounded in reality or common sense. I’m concerned that this guidance will be used as a vehicle to mandate masks in states and schools across the country, something I do not support.”  Article

Some Kansas Counties Expected to Evaluate CDC Mask Guidance; Shawnee County Recommends Masks
The Kansas City Star reported that in Johnson County (most populated), the Department of Health and Environment stated it is reviewing the updated CDC guidance; and in Wyandotte County (home to Kansas City), health officials will meet with county leaders in a special session Thursday evening to discuss COVID-19 and any health order recommendations. Article  

Shawnee County, home of Topeka.  KSNT-TV reported today that the county health officer is asking everyone, even if vaccinated, to wear a mask and practice social distancing in crowded indoor situations and recommending indoor mass gathering events to limit their attendance to 50% percent of the room capacity. The recommendations will go before the Shawnee County Commission on 7/29/21 in the form of Resolution No. 2021-55. For now, the guidance for masks and mass gathering limits stays as a recommendation, not a requirement. Article

Michigan Governor Has No Plans for New Mask Rule
The Detroit News reported on 7/27/21 that Governor Gretchen Whitmer said she is following developments on new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance on mask wearing closely, but has no plans to bring back a requirement that people mask up indoors.  Article  The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services posted “Face Coverings: Frequently Asked Questions” in June 22, 2021, which can be accessed here.   Ten counties reached the threshold to qualify for the CDC recommendations. CDC map

Minnesota Counties Qualify for CDC New Mask Recommendations
The Star Tribune reported on 7/27/21 that fourteen Minnesota counties had infection rates that were high enough to trigger the federal mask recommendation, including Scott County in the Twin Cities area. The other 13 are smaller counties with rates that can fluctuate widely from week to week. 

Nebraska Governor Rejects New CDC Mask Guides
Governor Pete Ricketts issued a media release on 7/27/21 stating that “The CDC’s new guidance suggesting that vaccinated people wear masks indoors flies in the face of the public health goals that should guide the agency’s decision making.  The CDC announcement only furthers the distrust many have with the CDC and does not help to encourage more people to get the vaccines that are helping bring the pandemic to a conclusion.  The State of Nebraska will not be adopting their mask guidance.”

Some Wisconsin Local Governments Respond to New CDC Mask Recommendations
WISN news reports that the Mayor of Milwaukee is asking residents to wear masks indoors and the city may consider a new mask mandate.  Wispolitics.com reports that Dane County and Madison officials are urging a return to masks as COVID-19 cases increase. Janel Heinrich, Director of Public Health Madison & Dane County, said the county is strongly advising that everyone ages 2 and older, regardless of vaccination status, wear a mask in indoor public spaces, and at indoor private gatherings. 7/27/21 Press Release

SOUTH

Two Major Florida Localities Issue Mandates
Both Miami-Dade County and Orange County have issued new COVID-19 related mandates following the new CDC guidance. Miami-Dade will require masks at all indoor county facilities, and Orange County will require that all non-union county workers receive their first COVID-19 vaccination by the end of August. Governor DeSantis signed a statewide law back in May that gives the state the power to invalidate any local emergency orders enacted during the pandemic, though DeSantis has not yet taken any action against Miami-Dade or Orange County.

Georgia Governor Will Not Reinstate COVID-19 Restrictions
Following the new CDC guidance, Governor Brian Kemp announced that Georgia will not move forward with reinstating any previous COVID-19 restrictions or instituting a statewide mask mandate. Savannah, GA has reinstated its mask mandate, but it will only apply to city buildings and areas with vulnerable peoples, including childcare and healthcare centers. 

Kentucky Will Require Masks For Employees & Visitors in State Offices
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear announced that all employees and visitors in any state office will be required to wear face coverings effective Thursday (7/29). Click here for more information.

Mississippi Will Not Mandate Masks in Schools
A spokesperson for Governor Tate Reeves announced that the state will not seek to mandate masks in schools following new CDC guidelines. The previous statewide mask mandate for public schools was lifted in May. Click here to read an article with more information.  

Puerto Rico Will Require State Workers to Receive Vaccine
Puerto Rico Governor Pedro Pierluisi announced that all state workers must be vaccinated starting next month. If an employee refuses, they must be required to submit a negative test on a weekly basis. Click here to view an article with more information. 

WEST

California Issues Recommendation Policy for Masks, Declines Further Action
Today, the State of California updated its mask guidance to issue a recommendation that everyone return to wearing masks indoors. The new guidance is not a mandate and the Governor has indicated he will defer to local government to implement any mandate policies.

Oregon Health Authority Urges Masks for All; Governor Considering Options
Following a spike in cases and the new CDC guidance issued yesterday, the state Health Authority is strongly urging residents to wear masks when indoors regardless of vaccination status. Governor Kate Brown said she plans to discuss the new CDC recommendation and to make a decision this week (Read article).

Nevada Adopts Latest CDC Guidance Effective Friday July 30^th
Issued yesterday, the new directive is linked here: https://nvhealthresponse.nv.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/7.26.21-CDC-Masks.pdf. Based on the CDC data, 12 of Nevada’s 17 counties are in the high-risk category.

New Mexico Issues Recommendation Policy for Masks
Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham and New Mexico health officials an everyone, including those who are fully vaccinated, wear face coverings indoors. This comes after the CDC’s new guidelines were released Tuesday morning.

Public Health Officials in Washington Counties Urge Mask Use Indoors

Health officials from eight of Washington State’s western counties made a collective recommendation that masks be worn in indoor public spaces, regardless of vaccination status. See Seattle Times article here. 

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