CDC's New Mask Recommendations: What To Know In Pierce County

TACOMA, WA — 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 Washington — where more than half of new COVID-19 cases have been attributed to the rapidly-spreading strain.

Roughly two-thirds of Washington counties are classified by the CDC as having either 'high' or 'substantial' transmission rates — including Pierce County — 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

In the Puget Sound region, only Kitsap, Mason, and Jefferson counties are below substantial community transmission. Pierce, Thurston, and King have all logged substantial transmission over the last few weeks, while Snohomish County grapples with high transmission.

As of Wednesday morning, it was unclear whether Pierce County would be adopting the new CDC mask guidance and issuing mandates. Earlier this week, the county's top health officer, Dr. Anthony Chen, joined 7 other county health leaders in penning a letter asking residents to resume masking while in public indoor spaces.

In their statement, posted Monday, the eight health officers say masking up remains one of the most effective ways to protect yourself, your family, and your community:

"We recommend all residents wear facial coverings when in indoor public settings where the vaccination status of those around you is unknown. This step will help reduce the risk of COVID-19 to the public, including customers and workers, help stem the increase in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations in many parts of the state and decrease the spread of the highly contagious Delta variant."

The letter, however, is a request for caution and not a legally-enforceable mandate.

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

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

Patch Staffer Amber Fisher contributed to this report.