Masks advised in Milwaukee due to 'high' level of COVID-19 community spread

The Milwaukee Health Department on Friday recommended that residents return to masking as the county moved into the "high" level of COVID-19 community spread, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 

The mask advisory applies when inside in public settings — regardless of vaccination status or past COVID-19 infection, the department said in a statement.

It applies to anyone older than 2 years old who is not prevented from wearing a mask for medical reasons.

Masks such as KN95s and N95 respirators offer additional layers of protection but the department said any mask that is worn consistently and snugly is better than no mask. Those without access to the recommended respirators can wear two masks to increase protection.

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The department also recommended that people get vaccinated, physically distance and avoid crowded spaces, improve indoor ventilation, thoroughly wash their hands and test for the virus when they are sick or in close contact with someone with COVID-19.

The CDC’s finding of high COVID-19 spread in the county was based on 294.91 new cases per 100,000 people in the last week, 10.7 new hospital admissions with COVID-19 per 100,000 people in that time period and 3.4% of inpatient beds occupied by patients with confirmed COVID-19.

It comes as the U.S. surpasses 1 million COVID-19 deaths and with neighboring counties of Kenosha, Ozaukee, Racine, Washington and Waukesha, and others across the state, in the same "high" category Friday. Many Wisconsin counties, however, also remained in the "low" and "medium" categories.

The White House has also warned that there could be as many as 100 million new infections this fall and winter. 

Contact Alison Dirr at 414-224-2383 or adirr@jrn.com. Follow her on Twitter @AlisonDirr.