Masks Recommended Outdoors In Montgomery County: Health Officials

NORRISTOWN, PA — With the delta variant continuing its surge across the region, officials in Montgomery County updated their health and safety guidance Friday to recommend masking outdoors. The recommendation holds regardless of vaccination status.

The new guidance will go into effect on Monday, Sept. 6. It comes as the county has spent tow straight weeks in the "high" level of community transmission, with a steadily rising positivity rate of 6 percent. Meanwhile, the 14-day average positivity rate is 5.2 percent.

"Not only is this an increase from last week, but it also marks the first time since May 9th this metric has been above 5%, the level at which the virus is generally considered to be 'suppressed,'" Montgomery County Commissioner Val Arkoosh said. "It's hard not to sound like a broken record, but the message hasn't changed. We need everyone who has not yet done so to get vaccinated."

The new guidance states that masks should be worn when within six feet of an individual not in your household.

Masking is still not recommended when playing sports. It is recommended when not actively participating in a game, including when sitting on the bench, in the locker room, or on a team bus.

The update comes some three weeks after the county changed its guidance to recommend masks indoors.