Half of New York’s counties have passed a mark that means they should mask up indoors under federal guidelines – even if they’re fully vaccinated.
Thirty one counties – including all five boroughs of the city – out of 62 in the Empire State now have a substantial or high number of coronavirus transmission, according to the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Tuesday.
That number is a large leap from Sunday, when 23 counties had substantial or high transmission rates, according to CDC designations.
The CDC issued new guidance on mask wearing last week as cases of the more contagious Delta variant surge across the country.
The CDC has four categories of transmission level – low, moderate, substantial and high based on the amount of new cases per 100,000 of population or a high number of positive tests.
Areas with 50 new cases per 100,000 of population are considered substantial transmission counties and areas with 100 or more new cases per 100,000 are considered high, according to CDC guidelines.
CDC numbers show the seven-day average in Manhattan, Staten Island, Brooklyn and Nassau County hitting the “high” standard. The Bronx, Queens, Suffolk County and the northern suburbs, meanwhile, hit the “substantial” mark.
Only Orleans and Yates counties were designated as low transmission in the latest CDC numbers.
City Mayor Bill de Blasio announced Tuesday that New Yorkers will have to show proof of vaccination to enter indoor businesses including restaurants and gyms beginning Sept. 13.
“If you want to participate in society fully, you’ve got to get vaccinated,” de Blasio said of the program, dubbed “Key to NYC Pass.”
Citywide data show the seven-day average of confirmed cases, hospitalizations and deaths increasing when compared to the daily average of the last 28 days.
“High”
Kings County
Nassau County
New York County
Richmond County
“Substantial”
Albany County
Bronx County
Chenango County
Columbia County
Delaware County
Dutchess County
Erie County
Lewis County
Monroe County
Montgomery County
Niagara County
Onondaga County
Orange County
Otsego County
Rockland County
Putnam County
Queens County
Rensselaer County
Saratoga County
Schenectady County
Schoharie County
Seneca County
Suffolk County
Sullivan County
Tompkins County
Ulster County
Westchester County
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