CDC issues new community COVID guidelines
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has released new COVID-19 Community Levels to measure the impact of COVID-19 illness on health and health care systems, with the goal of helping communities and individuals make local decisions.
The CDC states, “Health officials and individuals should consider current information about COVID-19 hospitalizations in the community, as well as the potential for strain on the local health system and COVID-19 cases in the community, when making decisions about community prevention strategies and individual behaviors.” The CDC now looks at a combination of three metrics when determining COVID-19 community levels.
-- New COVID-19 cases per 100,000 population in the past 7 days (total).
-- New COVID-19 hospital admissions per 100,000 population in the past 7 days (total).
-- Percent of staffed hospital inpatient beds occupied by COVID-19 patients.
Using the data metrics above, community levels are classified as low (green), medium (yellow), or high (orange). Prevention steps that individuals should take based on COVID-19 community levels are listed below: -- Low, Medium, or High * Stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines.
* Get tested if you have symptoms.
-- Medium * If you are at high risk for severe illness, talk to your healthcare provider about whether you need to wear a mask and take other precautions.
-- High * Wear a mask indoors in public, regardless of vaccination status.
* Additional precautions may be needed for people at high risk for severe illness.
The new CDC community levels do not apply to healthcare settings, current isolation or quarantine guidance, or other entities where masking or other mitigation measures are required (e.g., international air travel).
To check COVID-19 community levels by county, visit: www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/your-health/covidby- county.html. For more information on COVID-19 community levels across the U.S., along with the full guidance on mitigation measures, visit: www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/ science/community-levels.html.
