The CDC’s mask guidelines changed. Which counties are high or low risk around KC?
With COVID case numbers falling across the country, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention adjusted its recommendations for the precautions you should take to prevent the spread of COVID-19, depending on where you are.
The CDC is dividing communities into three risk levels, with looser guidelines for low risk communities, and stricter guidelines for high risk communities.
It’s looking at three key data points to determine the risk level for a county:
Hospital capacity
New COVID-19 cases
New COVID-19 hospitalizations
With any level of risk, the CDC is still recommending that people get vaccinated and boosted if they can, and that they get tested if they feel sick.
These are the other highlights:
Low risk: Masks aren’t recommended as necessary in most situations.
Medium risk: The CDC says that you should talk to a doctor about wearing a mask if you’re at a higher risk of getting sick from COVID-19.
High risk: The CDC recommends that you wear a mask in indoor public settings.
What does this mean for Kansas City? The CDC last updated the map on March 3, listing the levels for counties in Missouri and Kansas, which you can find below.
JACKSON COUNTY
The county, which includes Kansas City, is at medium risk.
CLAY COUNTY
The community level is at medium, according to the CDC.
PLATTE COUNTY
The CDC lists Platte County at a medium level.
JOHNSON COUNTY
Johnson County is listed at a low level, per the CDC’s guide.
WYANDOTTE COUNTY
The county is at a high level, meaning masks are recommended in indoor public settings.
Here are the full guidelines, including recommendations if you are immunocompromised.
Do you have other questions about COVID-19 in Kansas City? Ask us at kcq@kcstar.com or with the form below.
