CDC COVID-19 Transmission Map puts Seacoast at Significant Level

The entire Seacoast region has significant levels of COVID-19 community transmission according to the CDC's map, a big change from when the map was first unveiled two weeks ago.

With COVID-19 cases on the rise because of the Delta variant, the CDC revised its mask guidance to recommend that everyone should be wearing masks while indoors in public places no matter their vaccination status in areas of significant or high risk.

The map measures the seven-day rolling average of the number of new cases per 100,000 residents and the percent of positive COVID tests. When the map first appeared on July 27 only York County was showing as significant. Two weeks Rockingham and Strafford counties in New Hampshire and Essex in Massachusetts are as well.

None of the three states affected have restored their mask mandate. The governors of Maine and Massachusetts have only advised to follow the CDC guidelines. New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu has not addressed the CDC guidelines and continued to push the COVID-19 vaccine as the best way to move past the pandemic.

Retailers including Lowe's, Home Depot, Walmmart, and Target have reinstated mask requirements for their employees but it is only recommended for customers.

Contact reporter Dan Alexander at Dan.Alexander@townsquaremedia.com or via Twitter @DanAlexanderNH