Log in Subscribe

County at ‘substantial’ level of COVID transmission

Isabel Braverman
Posted 8/3/21

SULLIVAN – One week ago the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) changed its guidelines on mask wearing, urging vaccinated and unvaccinated people to wear a mask indoors in certain …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

Log in

County at ‘substantial’ level of COVID transmission

Posted

SULLIVAN – One week ago the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) changed its guidelines on mask wearing, urging vaccinated and unvaccinated people to wear a mask indoors in certain areas amid growing concerns of the Delta variant.

The CDC announced that the agency now recommends people in areas with “high” or “substantial” COVID-19 transmission should resume wearing masks indoors.

Sullivan County was recently classified as an area with substantial transmission, and is among 23 counties in New York where mask wearing is now recommended.

According to the most recent data from the county, there were 72 active cases of coronavirus on August 2, the biggest jump we’ve seen in a long time.

There are four people hospitalized, including one in the ICU. Two of the four hospitalized were vaccinated.

There are currently 110 people in quarantine, which is up from 83 over the weekend.

“I’m going to strongly recommend that even fully vaccinated individuals wear a mask when they’re indoors and they can’t maintain a six foot distance, because of the substantial level of transmission,” said Sullivan County Public Health Director Nancy McGraw.

The CDC data shows a seven-day 120 percent change in the number of cases in Sullivan County.

Substantial transmission is defined as 50-100 cases per 100,000 people in a seven-day period and high transmission as more than 100 cases per 100,000.

The new guidance is a reversal from recommendations made by the CDC two months ago saying vaccinated people do not have to wear a mask in most settings.

In another reversal, the CDC also is recommending that all students, teachers and staff wear masks in schools for this upcoming school year.

The biggest concern is the Delta variant, which is highly contagious and spreads rapidly.

“Even though we haven’t been officially notified by the State Health Department of the Delta variant we know it’s out there,” stated McGraw. “We can assume that Delta is widespread at this point.”

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo held a press conference yesterday, advising local governments to adopt the CDC’s new guidance and urging people to get vaccinated.

“If you are unvaccinated the Delta variant should be a major concern to you, and you should be worried about it,” Cuomo said.

Comments

No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here