BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KERO) — According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Kern County's COVID-19 risk level has dropped from High to Medium.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): "COVID-19 Community Levels are a new tool to help communities decide what prevention steps to take based on the latest data. Levels can be low, medium, or high and are determined by looking at hospital beds being used, hospital admissions, and the total number of new COVID-19 cases in an area. Take precautions to protect yourself and others from COVID-19 based on the COVID-19 Community Level in your area."
This changes the county's guidance for masks. Masks are no longer required for everyone in public indoor settings. They are only required if you are at high risk of getting infected with COVID or already have a severe illness.
At the "Medium" level, the CDC recommends:
- If you are at high risk for severe illness, talk to your healthcare provider about whether you need to wear a mask and take other precautions
- Stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines
- Get tested if you have symptoms
The CDC still recommends that people continue to mask up on public transportation. And their updated guidance also gives states and counties the go-ahead to re-implement guidelines if a new variant pops up.
According to the CDC, as of Thursday, more than 98-percent of the U.S. population is in a location with a Low or Medium COVID-19 risk level.
