CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – A new set of guidelines released by the CDC have dropped the face mask recommendation for Montgomery County.
On Friday, the CDC shared new guidance that removes COVID-19 prevention recommendations – such as masking indoors and social distancing – for much of the United States, and instead looks at local hospital admissions and case rates to determine the community impact of COVID-19 spread.
‘Community Levels’
The CDC said its usage of the “Community Levels” is meant to “help communities and individuals make decisions based on their local context and their unique needs,” their website said.
Instead of relying solely on the number of COVID-19 cases a community is experiencing, the CDC’s new guidance also looks at the levels of hospital admissions and issues each county a “Community Level.”
The guidance said only those living in an area with a “high” community level need to wear a mask indoors. However, regardless of “Community Level,” you should still wear a mask if you are experiencing symptoms, test positive or are exposed to someone with COVID-19.
As of Feb. 24, Montgomery County is one of the 17 counties in Tennessee listed at the “medium” level. Three others – Shelby, Fayette and Tipton counties – are listed at “low.”
The local spread of COVID-19 is continuing to slow after the Omicron variant led to the most active cases we’ve seen since the start of the pandemic in March 2020.
Montgomery County’s case rate was 333.03 per 100,000 people as of Feb. 28 according to the CDC’s COVID Data Tracker, meaning we’re still in the “high” community transmission zone. Anything equal to or greater than 100 per 100,000 is considered “high,” by the CDC’s definition.
Clarksville Now has reached out to Tennova Healthcare-Clarksville for an update on its number of COVID-19 inpatients. The hospital has yet to respond.