See New CDC Map Of COVID-19 Risk Levels In Wisconsin

WISCONSIN — The pandemic in Wisconsin is no longer enough of a concern for federal agencies to recommend people to wear masks while indoors, according to updated guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Most of Wisconsin is now "low spread" and "medium spread" communities, according to a new CDC system that uses new COVID-19 cases, hospital admissions and hospital bed capacity to set the bar for mask guidance.

Of Wisconsin's 72 counties, 18 had a "high spread" as of Thursday, according to federal health data.

The Badger State saw its largest COVID-19 surge at the end of 2021 and the start of 2022, largely driven by the arrival of the omicron variant. For nearly two months, cases and hospitalizations related to the virus have plummeted around Wisconsin.

Positive COVID-19 tests dropped by 57.2 percent between mid-January and early March, data from the Wisconsin Hospital Association showed. Across 136 state hospitals, there were 487 COVID-19 patients using hospital beds.

See the updated map for Wisconsin from the CDC here.

Low COVID-19 Level Counties:

• Walworth
• Jefferson
• Dane
• Iowa
• Grant
• Crawford
• Dodge
• Columbia
• Sauk
• Richland
• Sheboygan
• Fond du Lac
• Green Lake
• Marquette
• Adams
• Manitowoc
• Calumet
• Winnebago
• Waushara
• Outagamie
• Waupaca
• Portage
• Jackson
• Pierce
• St Croix
• Forest
• Oneida
• Vilas
• Iron
• Price
• Sawyer
• Bayfield
• Washburn
• Burnett

Medium COVID-19 Level Counties:

• Rock
• Lafayette
• Milwaukee
• Waukesha
• Ozaukee
• Washington
• Kewaunee
• Door
• Brown
• Oconto
• Shawano
• Langlade
• Marinette
• Ashland
• Chippewa
• Eau Claire
• Dunn
• Pepin
• Polk

High COVID-19 Level Counties:

• Kenosha
• Racine
• Green
• Vernon
• Monroe
• La Crosse
• Trempealeau
• Buffalo
• Menominee
• Wood
• Clark
• Marathon
• Lincoln
• Taylor
• Rusk
• Barron
• Florence
• Douglas

Masks aren't recommended indoors for people in low counties, while they are only recommended in medium counties if you are at elevated risk for severe illness and speak to your doctor. Masks are recommended indoors for people in high spread communities.

Everyone is still being encouraged to stay up to date on COVID-19 vaccines and get tested if experiencing symptoms.

Effective Feb. 25, the CDC announced it "does not require wearing of masks on buses or vans operated by public or private school systems, including early care and education/childcare programs."