MINNESOTA, USA — The video above originally aired on July 27, 2021.
The Centers for Disease Control has issued new mask-wearing guidelines for vaccinated Americans, recommending that all people wear face coverings while indoors in certain parts of the country. Those guideline include dozens of counties in the state of Minnesota.
The update was prompted by concerns over a nationwide spike in cases fueled by the delta variant of COVID-19.
A color-coded map from the CDC shows counties across the United States, now including 72 in Minnesota, that are considered to be at a high or substantial risk for transmitting the virus. It's in those counties where the new indoor mask guidelines are recommended. The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) said recently that samples indicate more than 81% of the state's new COVID cases involve the delta variant.
According to CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky, "substantial transmission" means there's been 50-100 cases per 100,000 over a 7-day period, and high transmission means an area has seen more than 100 cases per 100,000 over a 7-day period.
The following 72 Minnesota counties are considered high or substantial risk. You can check what percentage of each county's population is vaccinated on the Minnesota Department of Health's website.
Aitkin County
- Risk: Substantial
Anoka County
- Risk: High
Becker County
- Risk: Substantial
Beltrami County
- Risk: High
Benton County
- Risk: Substantial
Blue Earth
- Risk: Substantial
Carlton County
- Risk: Substantial
Carver County
- Risk: Substantial
Cass County
- Risk: Substantial
Chisago County
- Risk: High
Clearwater County
- Risk: High
Cottonwood County
- Risk: Substantial
Crow Wing County
- Risk: Substantial
Dakota County
- Risk: Substantial
Dodge County
- Risk: High
Douglas County
- Risk: Substantial
Faribault County
- Risk: Substantial
Fillmore County
- Risk: High
Freeborn County
- Risk: High
Goodhue County
- Risk: Substantial
Hennepin County
- Risk: High
Houston County
- Risk: High
Hubbard County
- Risk: High
Isanti County
- Risk: Substantial
Itasca County
- Risk: High
Jackson County
- Risk: High
Kanabec County
- Risk: High
Kandiyohi County
- Risk: High
Kittson County
- Risk: Substantial
Le Sueur County
- Risk: High
Lincoln County
- Risk: High
Lyon County
- Risk: Substantial
Marshall County
- Risk: High
Martin County
- Risk: Substantial
McLeod County
- Risk: High
Meeker County
- Risk: High
Mille Lacs County
- Risk: Substantial
Morrison County
- Risk: Substantial
Mower County
- Risk: High
Murray County
- Risk: Substantial
Nicollet County
- Risk: Substantial
Nobles County
- Risk: High
Norman County
- Risk: High
Olmstead County
- Risk: High
Otter Tail County
- Risk: High
Pennington County
- Risk: Substantial
Pine County
- Risk: High
Polk County
- Risk: Substantial
Pope County
- Risk: High
Ramsey County
- Risk: Substantial
Redwood County
- Risk: Substantial
Rice County
- Risk: High
Rock County
- Risk: High
Roseau County
- Risk: Substantial
Scott County
- Risk: Substantial
Sherburne County
- Risk: Substantial
Sibley County
- Risk: High
St. Louis County
- Risk: Substantial
Stearns County
- Risk: High
Steele County
- Risk: High
Stevens County
- Risk: Substantial
Todd County
- Risk: Substantial
Traverse County
- Risk: High
Wabasha County
Risk: Substantial
Wadena County
- Risk: Substantial
Waseca County
- Risk: High
Washington County
- Risk: Substantial
Watonwan County
- Risk: High
Washington County
- Risk: Substantial
Wilkin County
- Risk: Substantial
Winona County
- Risk: Substantial
Wright County
- Risk: Substantial
As the new school year approaches, the CDC is also recommending teachers, staff, students and visitors wear masks inside school buildings regardless of vaccination status.
Earlier this month, the American Academy of Pediatrics released it's own update and recommended all students over the age of two wear masks when returning to school this fall.
At that time, Minneapolis Public Schools and Saint Paul Public Schools told KARE 11 they hadn't made a decision about fall safety protocols and masking. A spokesperson for Minneapolis said those decisions would be made in the coming weeks, and a spokesperson for St. Paul said the AAP recommendations are an additional factor for the district to consider.