Monroe County recommends universal indoor masking, requires county employees to wear masks

Andrew Hyman

[anvplayer video=”5047567″ station=”998131″]

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WHEC) — Monroe County is now recommending everyone mask up while indoors, regardless of vaccination status, county leaders announced Monday.

Monroe County Executive Adam Bello and Commissioner of Public Health Dr. Michael Mendoza also announced that all county employees will be required to wear face masks or face coverings in public and common areas in all county-operated facilities beginning Tuesday, Aug. 3.

It comes just a day after the CDCs data tracker showed Monroe County with a “substantial” level of community transmission of the coronavirus. The CDC recommends fully-vaccinated persons wear masks in public indoor settings in areas of substantial or high transmission-based areas.

According to the CDC, areas with substantial transmission record 50 to 100 cases per 100,000, or a positivity rate between 8% and 10%. As of Monday, the CDC data reported Monroe County’s rate at 58.37 per 100,000 people.

"As this pandemic continues to evolve, we must apply what we have learned so far," Mendoza said in a statement. "The vaccines are proven to be highly effective, even against the Delta variant, in preventing serious illness, hospitalization, and death however, an additional layer of protection will help keep the virus from spreading, especially among our most vulnerable populations including the unvaccinated and immunocompromised. Masks are a proven tool that can help us contain the current surge and protect everyone in our community."

During his COVID briefing Monday, Gov. Cuomo encouraged local governments to adopt the CDC guidelines for the general public, which is a recommendation and not a direct order.

[File video, News10NBC]