Late in the final week of February, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued new masking guidance that is designed to scale with the severity of COVID-19 spread in one’s county as listed as on the agency’s new “COVID-19 Community Level” map. Click here for the new guidance.

In low-spread (green) counties, residents are advised to wear masks based on their personal preference. In medium-spread (yellow) counties, residents are advised to mask regularly if they are high-risk for serious COVID infection or if they live with someone who is high-risk. In high-spread (orange) counties, residents are encouraged to wear masks indoors regardless of vaccination status.

The CDC continues to recommend masking for older Americans, pregnant people, and people with certain medical conditions and disabilities. The national recommendations are guidelines only and do not supersede state and local masking requirements.