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People in areas with greater coronavirus risks should wear masks indoors again, even if they’re vaccinated against the disease, according to new guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
And if you think that doesn’t concern you, think again. For most of Hampton Roads, that means the face coverings should go back on.
In Chesapeake, Hampton, Newport News, Portsmouth, Suffolk and Virginia Beach, the spread of infections is considered “high” or “substantial” right now, levels for which federal officials say wearing a mask is a good idea.
The federal recommendations follow new information on transmission. Public health officials say most infections are among unvaccinated people, but recent outbreak investigations have shown some fully vaccinated people can be infected with the coronavirus if they get a more contagious strain. So-called “breakthrough cases” have been fueled by a mutation that devastated India in the spring known as the delta variant.
In Virginia, lab reports of new delta diagnoses are growing each week and data scientists believe it is now the dominant strain circulating.
“The delta variant is showing every day its willingness to outsmart us and to be an opportunist in areas where we have not shown a fortified response against it,” Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the CDC, said in a press briefing Tuesday.
In a statement, President Joe Biden said more vaccinations and masks in areas impacted most by the delta variant could help communities avoid the kind of lockdowns, school closures and job disruptions that plagued 2020.
The risk of coronavirus transmission is lower in localities such as Norfolk and Williamsburg right now, though the CDC has said people may want to wear a mask regardless, particularly if they are at increased risk for severe illness or live with someone who isn’t fully vaccinated, such as young children. People at increased risk include older adults and those who are immunocompromised, have diabetes, are overweight or have heart conditions.
The CDC also recommended indoor masks for all teachers, staff, students and visitors at schools nationwide.
The Virginia Department of Health is in talks with Gov. Ralph Northam about how the new CDC advice may change recommendations or policies for localities across the state.
Dr. Parham Jaberi, interim health director for Norfolk and Virginia Beach, said in Hampton Roads, where people travel throughout the region for jobs, the question of whether to strap on a mask could get confusing.
“Disease transmission knows no borders, yet our daily lives are governed by the address and location where we live, work, worship or play,” he said. “My advice is that masks have proven to reduce transmission of illness. This recommendation never went away for those who are unvaccinated. Given that 99% of the cases of COVID in the commonwealth are amongst the unvaccinated, it is very important that those who remain unvaccinated wear masks, especially in indoor settings or places where social distancing cannot be preserved.”
The rise of delta is particularly worrisome to public health officials who have watched the number of Virginians receiving first doses of vaccines dropping off. About 4.6 million Virginians, or 54% of the population, have been fully inoculated. Approximately 60% of Virginians have at least one shot.
The majority of Virginia, including most Hampton Roads cities and counties, is experiencing slow growth in coronavirus infections. Nearly 750 new cases are being diagnosed statewide each day, up from the 100 to 200 averages of June.
Health experts say vaccination will be the most effective tool at stopping the pandemic, which has killed 11,522 Virginians and infected at least 537,000. Data indicates that unvaccinated people have made up nearly all of Virginia’s COVID-19 illnesses, hospitalizations and deaths.
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But since June 1, about 5% of COVID-19 hospitalizations were for fully vaccinated Virginians, according to state health department data, showing early signs that delta is contributing to more breakthrough cases.
Walensky said studies showed the amount of virus found in unvaccinated people compared to the load in vaccinated people who had breakthrough infections was “pretty similar.”
That’s different from the way the alpha, commonly referred to as the U.K. variant, behaved.
“We believe the vast majority of transmission is occurring in unvaccinated people and through unvaccinated people, but unlike the alpha variant that we had back in May, where we didn’t believe that if you were vaccinated, you could transmit further, this is different,” she said. “We’re seeing now that it’s actually possible if you are a rare breakthrough infection that you can transmit further, which was the reason for the change.”
Because transmission levels change, federal officials say residents can monitor their city or county daily by using the CDC’s COVID-19 data tracker, at covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#county-view. The level is calculated using new cases per capita and the percentage of positive tests during the last seven days.
Transmission levels around the region:
Source: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Accomack County — high
- Gloucester County — substantial
- Isle of Wight County — high
- James City County — substantial
- Mathews County — moderate
- Middlesex County — high
- York County — high
- Southampton County — moderate
- Chesapeake — high
- Franklin — high
- Hampton — substantial
- Newport News — high
- Norfolk — moderate
- Poquoson — high
- Portsmouth — high
- Suffolk — high
- Virginia Beach — high
- Williamsburg — moderate
- Camden County — substantial
- Currituck County — high
- Gates County — moderate
Elisha Sauers, 757-839-4754, elisha.sauers@pilotonline.com