14 MN Counties Could Be Affected By CDC's New Mask Guidance

ACROSS MINNESOTA — The nation's top public health agency recommended Tuesday that people who have been vaccinated wear masks indoors if they are in an area with high coronavirus case rates.

The decision was announced as the delta variant continues to spread rapidly in U.S. states, including in Minnesota.

A total of fourteen Minnesota counties are classified by the Centers for Disease Control as having either "high" or "substantial" transmission rates, and they should be mandating indoor masks under the new federal guidance:

• Substantial: Areas with between 50 and 99.99 cases per 100,000 people in a week
• High: Areas with more than 100 cases per 100,000 in a week

The 14 Minnesota counties that fall under the CDC's "high" or "substantial" category are:

• Scott County
• Lake County
• Lake of the Woods County
• Redwood County
• Wilkin County
• Cottonwood County
• Dodge County
• Isanti County
• Mille Lacs County
• Pope County
• Roseau County
• Swift County
• Traverse County
• Waseca County

The federal agency can only make recommendations. It's up to the state and local government whether to adopt any new policies.

As of Tuesday afternoon, it was unclear if any counties would be adopting the new CDC mask guidance and issuing mandates.

Early studies show the delta variant is more infectious — it has around double the hospitalization rate of the alpha variant, according to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.

The coronavirus vaccine is effective against the delta variant, particularly two weeks after both doses are received, public health officials said.

Amber Fisher, Patch Staff, contributed to this report