Updated COVID Risk Levels In Michigan: See New CDC Map
MICHIGAN — Most Michiganders no longer need to wear masks indoors, according to an updated guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The CDC updated its mask guidance after revising its system for calculating COVID-19 spread in communities. Most of Michigan is now either in a "low spread" or "medium spread" community. The Michiganders who live in one of the state's 18 "high spread" counties should continue to wear masks indoors.
The state saw a surge in COVID-19 cases at the end of 2021 and in early 2022, largely driven by the arrival of the omicron variant. During that time, Michigan led the country in hospitalizations and recorded record daily averages.
However, since then, cases and hospitalizations related to the virus have plummeted around Michigan.
Last week, the CDC revised the system it uses to deem where certain mitigation factors are encouraged. The agency uses hospital bed capacity, hospital admissions, and new COVID-19 cases to determine how high virus levels are in a county.
See the updated map for Ohio from the CDC here.
Low COVID-19 Level Counties:
Allegan County
Baraga County
Charlevoix County
Cheboygan County
Emmet County
Genessee County
Gogebic County
Houghton County
Keweenaw County
Lapeer County
Ontonagon County
Ottawa County
Medium COVID-19 Level Counties:
Alcona County
Alger County
Antrim County
Barry County
Benzie County
Branch County
Calhoun County
Chippewa County
Clare County
Crawford County
Delta County
Dickinson County
Eaton County
Gladwin County
Hillsdale County
Huron County
Ingham County
Ionia County
Iron County
Isabella County
Jackson County
Kalamazoo County
Kalkaska County
Kent County
Lake County
Leelanau County
Lenawee County
Livingston County
Mackinac County
Macomb County
Manistee County
Marquette County
Mecosta County
Missaukee County
Monroe County
Montcalm County
Montmorency County
Muskegon County
Newaygo County
Oakland County
Oceana County
Osceola County
Ostego County
Presque Isle County
Roscommon County
Saginaw County
Schoolcraft County
Shiawassee County
St. Joseph County
Tuscola County
Washtenaw County
Wayne County
Wexford County
High COVID-19 Level Counties:
Alpena County
Arenac County
Bay County
Berrien County
Cass County
Clinton County
Grand Traverse County
Gratiot County
Iosco County
Luce County
Mason County
Menominee County
Midland County
Ogemaw County
Oscoda County
Sanilac County
St. Clair County
Van Buren County
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."
This article originally appeared on the Detroit Patch
