CDC's New Mask Recommendations: What To Know In Waukesha

WAUKESHA, WI — 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 top public health agency in the country issued new guidance Tuesday for mask wearing. Regardless of vaccination status, people are now recommended to wear masks in all K-12 schools and in areas of high caseloads.

The CDC announced the new decision as the delta variant continues to spread across the U.S., and after the Waukesha School District announced a new mask policy for the upcoming school year. James Sebert, the district’s assistant superintendent, told Patch on Monday the district doesn't anticipate changing course.

A district memo, from early July, said the district will follow an optional policy for masks:

• Students will not be required to pre-screen in the mornings.
• The district will not limit classes moving from one room to another.
• Elementary students will have specials (art, music, physical education) in their designated classrooms.

Visitors and volunteers will again be allowed in the schools.
The optional mask policy means the school community can wear masks if they choose.

Whether or not the Waukesha will be affected by the new guidance, though, is yet to be discovered.

According to data from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, 50 percent of City of Waukesha residents have had at least one dose.

In the Town of Waukesha, 57 percent of residents have had at least one dose.

Between July 7 and July 20, Waukesha county had high case activity, according to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services.

"This categorization is created by combining Waukesha County's moderately high burden of 57.4 per 100,000 people and showing growth in cases," the department said.

On Monday, there were three confirmed and two probably cased of COVID-19 in the county.. The seven-day average of confirmed plus probable cases of COVID-19 in the county was 36, the department said.

Waukesha Mayor Shawn Reilly said the case numbers are being watched.

"Waukesha County transmission is increasing and that is concerning. The vaccination rate however is relatively high here and I hope we plateau soon. I urge people who have not been vaccinated to get vaccinated. The vaccines have been effective in keeping people out of the hospitals. I have been following what has been occurring, mainly in the southern states, and I hope as a nation we do not slide back into any hospitals being overwhelmed," Reilly said in a statement to Patch

Dozens of Wisconsin counties are classified by the CDC 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

Milwaukee and Waukesha Counties rates are considered 'substantial.'

As of Tuesday afternoon, it was unclear whether the City of Waukesha would be adopting the new CDC mask guidance and issuing mandates.

John Quinnies and Amber Fisher, Patch Staff, contributed to this report.