The CDC said half of Californians live in high-risk counties. But the agency apparently relied on outdated numbers of COVID infections and patients. Newer data shows only 19 counties are in the CDC’s riskiest category, where universal masking is advised.
Federal health officials who reported that nearly half of Californians live in “high-risk” counties for COVID-19 were relying on old data, and only a small number of counties now fall into that category, according to local officials.
But a CalMatters analysis of state data detailing the first two criteria suggests only 19 counties, home to 5.8 million people or 14% of the state's population, should be considered high risk under the CDC’s thresholds and therefore are advised to keep indoor mask mandates. The CDC placed Los Angeles County in the highest risk tier, but the county’s numbers suggest otherwise.
California’s indoor mask mandate for vaccinated persons expired on Feb. 15. Then the state dropped its mask requirement for unvaccinated people on Tuesday, and forThe CDC’s use of the outdated data and the widespread confusion over the disparate state and federal guidelines call into question just how effective or useful the CDC’s masking recommendations will be.
But in recent months, masking orders have become increasingly divisive in communities and among legislators.urging the county health department to delay joining the state in ending masking for vaccinated individuals. Regardless, Sonoma and 11 other Bay Area counties, with the exception of Santa Clara, lifted masking restrictions in accordance with state guidelines.
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