(WWJ) The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is urging people to wear masks indoors in areas where the COVID-19 has a substantial or high transmission rate — even if they're fully vaccinated.
And that includes a large portion of metro Detroit.
An updated map from the CDC shows that Oakland and Macomb are among a couple of dozen Michigan counties classified as "substantial" at this time. A handful of others are classified as "high." [SEE THE MAP]
Dr. Russel Foust, Medical Director for the Oakland County Health Division. says recent data shows vaccinated individuals can carry and spread the coronavirus.
"Even fully vaccinated people are going to be in contact with people are going to be in contact with folks that are unvaccinated, who have a very much higher probability of being infected — whether they're symptomatic or not — and potentially transmitting it, even to people who are vaccinated," he told WWJ's Dr. Deanna Lites.
"What wearing a mask does is keep people around you safe from your respiratory droplets," Foust said. "So even if you're unaware that you're infected with COVID-19 and you're spewing respiratory droplets, at least the mask is going to reduce the likelihood of you infecting those folks around you."
For those in lower transmission areas, the CDC says vaccinated people might choose to wear a mask regardless if you have a weakened immune system or if, because of your age or an underlying medical condition, you are at increased risk for severe disease, or if a member of your household has a weakened immune system, is at increased risk for severe disease, or is unvaccinated.
All unvaccinated people are urged to continue wearing masks throughout Michigan and across the U.S. [MORE FROM THE CDC]
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This comes as the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Michigan has actually dropped in recent days.
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services says there were about 2,600 new cases documents in the last four days. That's an average of 651 per day.
Last week, the average was 750 per day. There were also 26 more deaths reported, including 10 recorded during a review of vital records.
Despite the drop in numbers, health officials are still encouraging people to get vaccinated.
"Right now the hospitalization rate for people who are unvaccinated is about 25 times greater than for people who are vaccinated," Foust said. "And the death rate is also about 25 times greater for unvaccinated people than vaccinated."
For the latest data from MDHHS on COVID-19 cases in Michigan, CLICK HERE. To find out where to get a vaccine near you, visit this link.
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