After CDC revises COVID-19 recommendations, Dallas County narrows its mask mandate
The federal agency’s new guidance says most healthy Americans don’t need to wear masks in public. It marks a turning point in the pandemic.
By Sneha Dey
As the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention mark a new stage of the pandemic by loosening masking guidelines, Dallas County has quickly scaled back its mask mandate.
Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins revised guidelines Friday, no longer requiring masks in public settings, except in jails, homeless shelters, long-term care facilities, and health care settings.
Immunocompromised residents are still strongly encouraged to continue to wear masks in all indoor settings.
7-day average of new confirmed cases of COVID-19
As of Feb. 24, there are 5.4 million confirmed cases. The average number of cases reported over the past seven days shows how the situation has changed over time by de-emphasizing daily swings. The number of new cases reported drops on weekends when labs are less likely to report new data to the state.
Source: Texas Department of State Health ServicesCredit: The Texas Tribune
The CDC announced earlier on Friday a new system for monitoring the virus, which designates individual counties as being at low, medium or high risk of residents contracting COVID-19. Counties in Texas collectively represent all three categories. But statewide, COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations are plummeting.
For residents of low-risk counties, there is no recommendation for masking. And in medium-risk counties, people who are immunocompromised should talk to their doctor about continuing to wear a mask. The CDC is revising its universal mask mandates for schools and recommending districts require masks only in high-risk settings.
CDC Director Rochelle Walensky said the new system reflects a belief that the country has entered a different phase of the pandemic. Communities now have more tools to protect themselves from the virus, including an increased access to vaccines, testing, and high-quality masks.
A federal mandate still requires Texans to wear face coverings on buses, trains and planes, though the order is set to expire on March 18. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and U.S. Rep. Beth Van Duyne, R-Irving, have sued the CDC over that mandate.
Hospitalized patients with COVID-19 in Texas
On April 6, 2020, the state started reporting the number of patients with positive tests who are hospitalized.
Note: From July 23 to July 28, 2020, between 9% and 18% of hospitals reported incomplete hospitalization numbers due to changes in reporting to meet federal requirements.Source: Texas Department of State Health Services
Credit: The Texas Tribune
Throughout the pandemic, political battles have raged over mask mandates in the state. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has waged legal fights with the Biden administration and with cities, counties, and school districts over bids to require masks.
Earlier this week, Travis County returned to Stage 4, a less restrictive tier of COVID-19 guidelines. Waco Independent School District also lifted its mask mandate Thursday.
This story was originally published by the Texas Tribune.
