The Ministry of Health recommends wearing a mask in public

The county’s main health agency is urging area residents to resume wearing masks in public spaces and getting vaccinated against COVID-19.

Citing an upward trend in coronavirus transmissions, the Monroe County Health Department recently issued a recommendation to wear masks in indoor public spaces, regardless of vaccination status. The recommendation is in line with updated guidelines from the Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention, which last month revised its guidelines to offer similar recommendations.

The ministry also recommends that unvaccinated people get vaccinated if they meet the eligibility criteria.

“Monroe County is currently at ‘substantial’ transmission and (is) likely to rise to ‘high’ over the next several weeks if current trends continue,” the health department said in a statement. “Neighboring counties are already at substantial transmission levels. “

Data from the MI Safe Start Map, which tracks data from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, shows that Monroe County is currently experiencing a 6.3% test positivity rate last week (29 -July the 5th).

The map shows that there are an average of 12 new cases per day.

That’s up from data the week before, which had a 5.9% positivity rate and an average of 9 new cases per day.

According to CDC data, about 42.4% of Monroe County residents aged 12 or older have received a full vaccination.

“The Department of Health’s recommendations should be taken seriously during a pandemic and without the need to take additional state or local orders,” the department said. “Public health data and policies support the use of vaccinations, masks and additional prevention measures, such as social distancing, frequent hand washing, as well as appropriate isolation and quarantine when diagnosed. virus or exposure. “

The likelihood of transmission is on the rise in part due to the Delta variant in circulation.

CDC officials say the variant is more contagious than previous variants of the virus. The agency links the contraction of the virus in vaccinees to the different nature of the variant.

But, according to the local health department, transmissions among vaccinees represent a small segment of new cases.

“The increase in hospitalizations or deaths can take weeks compared to the increase in the number of cases; However, hospitalizations or deaths have been rare among those vaccinated since vaccination became widely available, ”the department said.

In its opinion, the department said cases among the vaccinated tend to be mild, and deaths and hospitalizations are most likely among the unvaccinated.

For more information, visit www.healthymonroecounty.com or call the department’s COVID-19 hotline at 734-240-7800.