(The following information was provided by the Montgomery County Office of Public Health.)
The Montgomery County Office of Public Health announced today it will update its school and public masking recommendations to align with new CDC guidance for COVID-19 given the County’s high vaccination rates. Updated guidance documents will be released this week.
The CDC’s updated framework shifts from four levels of community transmission to three: low, medium, or high. Local levels are determined by hospital beds being used, hospital admissions, and the number of new COVID-19 cases in the community over a seven-day period.
The CDC’s new guidance outlines COVID-19 prevention and mitigation strategies at each level. The public can use local data and updated information about the CDC’s new guidance at the CDC’s COVID-19 Community Levels website to determine steps they should take based on their personal risk level and local COVID-19 levels.
According to this data, Montgomery County is currently in the ‘medium’ level. At this level, masks are no longer required in indoor public settings for individuals who are healthy and who are not caring for someone who is at higher risk for severe COVID-19. However, individuals who are at higher risk for severe COVID-19 and those caring for others at higher risk should consult with a healthcare provider about masking and appropriate mitigation strategies.
Starting today, masking is optional for all employees and visitors to County buildings and facilities including the Montgomery County Courthouse, regardless of vaccination status.
Getting vaccinated against COVID-19 remains the best way to avoid serious illness and hospitalization. The Montgomery County Office of Public Health continues to operate four sites that offer the vaccine at no charge. All eligible Montgomery County residents are urged to get a booster dose as soon as they are eligible. Residents can also visit www.vaccines.gov for a list of all vaccine providers.
See also:
County Health Dept. To Open New COVID Testing Site In Lansdale
Grand View Hospital Among First To Get Aid From State COVID-19 Strike Team
Wolf Administration Focused on Coordinating Federal COVID-19 Relief, Not a Statewide Mandate
As COVID-19 Cases Climb, Wolf Calls on Feds for Health Care Support
First Case of Omicron Variant Detected in a Montgomery County Resident
