UPDATE 1-CDC says nearly 67% of U.S. counties have substantial, high COVID-19 transmission

David Shepardson
·1 min read

(Adds details)

By David Shepardson

WASHINGTON, July 28 (Reuters) - The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said on Wednesday that 66.6% of U.S. counties had transmission rates of COVID-19 high enough to warrant indoor masking and should immediately resume the policy.

The transmission rate was up from 63.4% as of Tuesday. In total, 49.9% of U.S. counties have high COVID-19 community transmission rates and 16.7% have substantial rates, the CDC said. The CDC reversed its mask guidance policy for vaccinated Americans on Tuesday.

Substantial transmission means at least 50 new cases per 100,000 people in the last seven days, while high transmission is more than 100 cases per 100,000 people over the last week.

In a toughening of guidance issued earlier this month, the CDC also recommended all students, teachers and staff at schools for kindergarten through 12th grade wear masks regardless of whether they were vaccinated.

U.S. coronavirus cases have been rising due to the highly contagious Delta variant, which was first detected in India but has quickly spread and now accounts for more than 80% of U.S. coronavirus cases.

However, the new CDC recommendations are not binding and many Americans, especially in Republican-leaning states, may choose not to follow them. (Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Leslie Adler and Jonathan Oatis)

  • Up next
  • Up next
  • Up next
  • Up next

Latest Stories

  • Decoding Northrop Grumman Corp (NOC): A Strategic SWOT Insight

    Unveiling the Financial and Strategic Position of Northrop Grumman Corp

  • Love Island's Molly Smith on trolls calling her 'too skinny'

    Ex-Love Islander Molly Smith shares how she handles trolls criticising her body and why she's so well matched to her younger boyfriend Tom.

  • Net zero does not mean ‘huge shift’ in everyday lives, top climate adviser says

    The shift to zero emissions is an investment strategy for the UK, Climate Change Committee chief executive Chris Stark said, as he leaves the role.

  • Spice Girls’ reunion plans ‘in chaos’ after Geri Horner allegedly refused to film a documentary

    Despite the band’s members reuniting for a singalong at Victoria Beckham’s recent 50th birthday, hopes for a Spice Girls’ reunion are said to be in “chaos” after Geri Horner allegedly refused to film a documentary.

  • Kelly Osbourne 'almost died' when she was shot by brother Jack

    Kelly Osbourne has revealed she "almost died" when she was shot in the leg by her brother Jack who was messing around with a pellet gun.

  • Tori Spelling fears she makes men feel 'emasculated'

    'Beverly Hills, 90210' star Tori Spelling fears she may never find a happy relationship because she's convinced her stardom makes men feel "emasculated".

  • Time to crack down on Ontario licence plates, STO says

    The revenue-starved bus network in Gatineau, Que., is calling for a crackdown on residents who keep their Ontario licence plates instead of paying renewal fees in Quebec that support transit.On Thursday, the board of directors for the Société de transport de l'Outaouais (STO) put forward a resolution that the agency and the City of Gatineau join forces to pressure government authorities on the issue."I think it's a question of fairness toward the citizens of Gatineau," said Manoir-des-Trembles–V

  • Documents reveal Ottawa's efforts to get Loblaw, Walmart on board with grocery code

    It was evident to the federal government as early as last fall that Loblaw and Walmart might be holdouts to the grocery code of conduct, jeopardizing the project's success. Documents obtained through access to information legislation shed new light on the federal government’s efforts to convince the two retailers to sign the grocery code of conduct, with cracks appearing in the months leading up to a House of Commons meeting where the grocers said they couldn't sign the near-complete code. “Ther

  • Booze-free bottle shops aim to showcase variety, educate consumers

    Jonathan Barembruch and his wife would often sit with a glass of wine and unwind after long days at work. But when his wife became pregnant, Barembruch decided to find an alternative for their after-work tradition, setting out to find the best non-alcoholic drinks so the two could still carry on their evening ritual. Several online retailers sold non-alcoholic wine, beer and spirits, but none of them offered enough information about the products, he recalled. It was hard to decide which one tast

  • Government hits Canada Life with financial sanctions

    The federal government has begun imposing financial sanctions on Canada Life after months of outcry from public servants, retirees and their families who were left fighting for medical claims to be covered.Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) says it "is taking steps to address startup delays faced by Canada Life and has begun to apply financial consequence mechanisms under the contract," according to a statement from spokesperson Michèle LaRose.She said PSPC is not yet in a position to

  • Ottawa says pharmacare is coming — here's what you need to know

    The federal government's latest budget sets aside $1.5 billion to implement pharmacare — a major financial commitment with the potential for a wide-ranging impact on the country's health-care system.The program, long demanded by the government's supply-and-confidence partners in the NDP, will start small by covering just two categories of drugs.For the program to get off the ground, the provinces and territories also will have to be on board.Ottawa has made a commitment to expand pharmacare — it

  • Mira Sorvino ‘gutsick’ over Harvey Weinstein convictions in New York being overturned

    After jailed Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein’s attorney Arthur Aidala’s argument that he didn’t receive a fair trial led to his convictions in New York being overturned, actress Mira Sorvino says she is “gutsick”.

  • London travel news LIVE: Tube stations shut amid strike as two lines suspended due to casualty on tracks

    Several London Underground stations are closed due to workers striking while two Tube lines were halted because of a casualty on the track. Transport for London marked 10 stations on the network at 9am on Friday due to the Transport Salaried Staffs' Association action. The union said the action was likely to cause Tube stations to close at the last minute, including into Saturday morning, but Transport for London said there will not be significant disruption.

  • The Latest | Hezbollah ambushes Israeli convoy, killing civilian

    Lebanon’s militant Hezbollah group fired anti-tank missiles and artillery shells at an Israeli military convoy in a disputed area along the border, killing an Israeli civilian, the group and Israel’s military said Friday. Hezbollah said that its fighters ambushed the convoy shortly before midnight Thursday, destroying two vehicles. The Israeli military said the ambush wounded an Israeli civilian doing infrastructure work, and that he later died of his wounds.

  • Q1 2024 Hess Midstream LP Earnings Call

    Q1 2024 Hess Midstream LP Earnings Call

  • Capsizing of Tuvalu boat carrying vaccines highlights climate change challenges, UNICEF says

    The capsizing of a boat carrying childhood vaccines and health workers in Tuvalu underscored the challenges of healthcare in remote Pacific Islands as they battle extreme weather caused by climate change, the U.N children's agency UNICEF said. UNICEF supports Pacific Islands with reliable supply of vaccines, a priority in a region where hospitals can run out of medicine because of remote locations.

  • Q1 2024 NewMarket Corp Earnings Call

    Q1 2024 NewMarket Corp Earnings Call

  • Prince Harry dons medals to present Soldier of the Year award

    Prince Harry filmed a message from his California home for the awards ceremony

  • Conservation slowing biodiversity loss, scientists say

    A first-of-its-kind study shows conservation is worth investing in, researchers say.

  • Michigan man charged with manslaughter in deadly building explosion

    Noor Kestou, 31, was arraigned in connection with the blast at Goo Smoke Shop/Select Distributors that rocked residents for miles.