The Latest Mask Guidance in Your Community

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has updated its mask guidance for COVID-19. In places where there are high rates of hospital admissions for COVID-19, high volumes of new COVID-19 cases, and hospital capacity is limited, the CDC continues to recommend general indoor masking. When the risk is low in your area, you many no longer need to wear a mask indoors.

A new CDC tool helps identify the COVID-19 risk level by county and recommends precautions you should take. You can use the tool, which identifies a risk level for each county, to guide you on how to protect yourself:

• Green (low risk): You may choose to wear a mask at any time based on your personal preference.
• Yellow (medium risk): If you are at high risk of severe illness, ask your doctor whether you should wear a mask.
• Orange (high risk): Wear a mask indoors, regardless of your vaccination status or personal risk level.

Regardless of the COVID-19 risk level in your county, the CDC recommends that you stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines and get tested if you have symptoms.

If you need to wear a mask, the CDC recommends the best fitting mask you can find, including properly fitting N95 masks. They provide more protection than other masks and are no longer in short supply. In fact, any adult can pick up N95 masks for free at pharmacies and community health centers across the country. To learn more about masks and find free N95 masks, visit the CDC website.

_{Independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association. Read more about us.}