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The CDC recommends wearing masks indoors in these Minnesota counties

Seventy-two counties in the state are now considered to be at substantial or high risk for transmitting COVID-19.

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.

RELATED: CDC reverses course on indoor masks in parts of US where COVID is surging

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. 

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