COVID-19 community levels in Carroll and Leflore counties are low, according to the latest health guidelines set by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, meaning indoor mask rules can be dropped.
In fact, countywide mask mandates for public buildings across Carroll and Leflore have already been dropped, as well as those in area municipalities including Greenwood, Carrollton, North Carrollton and Vaiden.
The few places where masks are still required indoors include Greenwood Leflore Hospital and all of its affiliated clinics for all employees, patients and visitors, as well as all Greenwood Leflore Consolidated School District campuses for all staff members, students and visitors.
Last week, the CDC outlined a new set of measures to determine where COVID-19 is lessening in communities, focusing on what’s happening at hospitals rather than on positive test results.
The change was made in response to increased immunity from COVID-19, whether due to vaccination or previous infections, overall lessening the chance of severe diseases from COVID-19, according to the CDC.
According to the Mississippi State Department of Health’s COVID-19 vaccination report, 61% of Leflore County’s population has been fully inoculated against COVID-19, and 40% of the population in Carroll County has been inoculated.
The CDC said masks are still required for those using public transportation and also must be worn at airports, train stations and bus stations. They also are recommended for those who have tested positive for COVID-19, have symptoms of it or have been exposed to someone who has tested positive.
To go along with its new guidelines, the CDC released a color-coded map of all U.S. counties to indicate where masks should still be worn indoors.
Counties colored green, which include Carroll and Leflore, have a “low” COVID-19 community level, meaning residents may decide whether to mask up indoors.
Counties colored yellow have a “medium” level, meaning residents who are immunocompromised or at high-risk of severe illness if infected with COVID-19 should consult with a health care provider to inquire if they should mask up indoors.
Counties colored orange have a “high” level, meaning residents should mask up indoors in public.
Regardless of the color, the CDC advises that anyone exhibiting signs of COVID-19 get tested.
The CDC’s color-coded map can be accessed online at bit.ly/3MhILXl.
- Contact Gerard Edic at 662-581-7239 or gedic@gwcommonwealth.com.
