COVID-19 risk drops from high level in Hamilton, Warren counties

COVID-19 risk levels in Hamilton and Warren counties dropped to medium Thursday, a designation that removes a mask recommendation by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for all individuals while indoors regardless of vaccination status.

The counties had five weeks of high COVID-19 community levels according to the CDC. Now, because they live in medium-risk counties, residents in Hamilton and Warren are recommended to take the following precautions:

• People at high risk for severe illness from COVID-19, such as those with weakened immune systems, should talk with their doctor about whether they need to wear a mask and take other precautions.
• Everybody should make sure they’re up to date with COVID-19 vaccines.
• Anybody who has symptoms should get tested.

More:COVID-19: Is my at-home test still good? What you need to know

More:Masks remain a ‘recommendation’ even as Cincinnati’s COVID-19 hospitalizations rise

Butler and Clermont counties remain at high risk, according to the CDC’s latest update. When a county is at the highest level, the agency recommends individuals to:

• Wear a well-fitting mask indoors in public, regardless of vaccination status (including in K-12 schools and other indoor community settings).
• If you are immunocompromised or high risk for severe disease: Wear a mask or respirator that provides you with greater protection; Consider avoiding non-essential indoor activities in public where you could be exposed; Talk to your healthcare provider about whether you need to take other precautions (e.g., testing); Have a plan for rapid testing if needed (e.g., having home tests or access to testing); Talk to your healthcare provider about whether you are a candidate for treatments like oral antivirals, PrEP, and monoclonal antibodies. 
• If you have household or social contact with someone at high risk for severe disease: consider self-testing to detect infection before contact; consider wearing a mask when indoors with them.
• Stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines and boosters.
• Maintain improved ventilation throughout indoor spaces when possible.
• Follow CDC recommendations for isolation and quarantine, including getting tested if you are exposed to COVID-19 or have symptoms of COVID-19.

COVID-19 levels fall in much of northern Kentucky

The risk of COVID-19 decreased in northern Kentucky for a second straight week. The three most populous counties in northern Kentucky − Boone, Kenton, and Campbell − have dropped to low risk. Grant, Gallatin, and Bracken counties have also dropped to low levels, while Pendleton remains the lone medium risk county.

When a county falls to a low-risk level, the CDC recommends the following:

COVID-19 risk levels stay high in southeast Indiana

In southeastern Indiana, Dearborn, Franklin and Ohio counties all remain at high COVID-19 risk levels, according to the CDC. Union County now is at low level.

The CDC determines COVID-19 community levels by looking at the number of hospital beds being used, hospital admissions and the total number of new COVID-19 cases per population in an area.