13 Arizona Counties Could Be Affected By CDC's New Mask Guidance

PHOENIX, AZ — The nation's top public health agency recommended Tuesday that people who are vaccinated wear masks indoors if they are in an area with high coronavirus case rates.

The decision was announced as the delta variant continues to spread rapidly in U.S. states, including Arizona —nearly 5,500 new cases have been reported in our state over the past week, state public health data shows.

All but two Arizona counties are classified by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as having either 'high' or 'substantial' transmission rates, and they should be mandating indoor masks under the new federal guidance:

• Substantial: Areas with between 50 and 99.99 cases per 100,000 people in a week
• High: Areas with more than 100 cases per 100,000 in a week

As of Tuesday afternoon, Maricopa County is currently dealing with a 'high' transmission rate; as are Pinal, Yavapai, Gila, Mohave, Navajo and Apache counties.

Pima County, meanwhile, is dealing with substantial spread of the virus; along with Santa Cruz; Coconino; Graham and Greenlee counties.

The lone Arizona counties that are in 'moderate' spread are Yuma and Cochise counties.

Early studies show the delta variant is more infectious — it has around double the hospitalization rate of the alpha variant, according to the Arizona Department of Health Services.

An Arizona state law prohibits mask mandates, though AZDHS Communications Director Steve Elliott told Patch that the department is issuing new guidance to Arizonans, including the following items:

• Everyone, those who are vaccinated in addition to those who aren't vaccinated, should wear masks and distance in indoor settings where they are around people they don't live with.
• In schools, everyone should wear masks regardless of whether they are vaccinated. This includes students, teachers, staff and visitors.

The coronavirus vaccine is effective against the delta variant, particularly two weeks after both doses are received, Arizona public health officials said.

In Arizona, 51.7 percent of the population has been vaccinated, according to public health data.