New CDC Mask Guidelines: Where Pittsburgh Stands

PITTSBURGH, PA — The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention revised its mask guidelines on Tuesday, recommending that people wear masks indoors if they are in areas with substantial or high coronavirus transmission.

That includes almost two-thirds of all counties in the country, but not Allegheny County or most counties in southwestern Pennsylvania.

According to the centers' COVID-19 data tracker and indicated in the map below, Pittsburgh-area counties have a moderate spread of the virus as indicated by the color yellow. The only counties in western Pennsylvania that do not have moderate spreads are Lawrence (brown, substantial) and Crawford (red, high).

The agency is recommending indoor masks for anyone in a school building - teachers, staff, students and visitors - regardless of vaccination status. The preliminary health and safety plan of the Pittsburgh Public Schools, the region's largest school district, calls for masks for everyone in a school.

Gov. Tom Wolf has indicated he is not considering a new statewide mask mandate, preferring that people across the state continue to get vaccinated.

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