HARTFORD — On Friday, February 25, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a new framework to monitor the level of COVID-19 in communities that includes hospitalizations, hospital capacity, and cases. This new approach focuses on preventing hospitals and health care system from being overwhelmed and directing prevention efforts toward protecting people at high risk for severe illness.

This new tool and guidance does not change the recent masking guidance released by the Department of Public Health and the Connecticut State Department of Education — this tool assists local communities with their decision making.

It is also important to note that as of February 25, the CDC does not require wearing of masks on buses or vans that are operated by public or private school systems. This includes early care and education/childcare programs.

With this framework in mind, CDC experts are working now to update guidance for K-12 schools, early childhood education facilities, and institutes of higher education.

The COVID-19 Community Level will inform CDC recommendations on prevention measures, like masking and testing. The guidelines include a color-coded system available on the CDC website of “Low,” “Medium,” and “High” which are scheduled to be updated weekly:

*Low — Green: Residents in these counties should stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines and get tested if they have symptoms.

*Medium — Yellow: Residents who are at high risk for severe illness in these counties should talk to their health care providers about when they need to wear a mask and take other precautions. These residents should also stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines and get tested if they have symptoms.

*High — Orange: Residents in these counties should wear a mask indoors in public; stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines and get tested if they have symptoms. Additional precautions may be needed for residents who are at high risk for severe illness.

Currently all Connecticut counties — except for Middlesex County — are listed in the Low/Green category. Middlesex County is listed in the Medium/Yellow category.

"It is important to note that residents who are more comfortable wearing a mask should continue to do so if they wish," Juthani said. "People with symptoms, a positive test, or exposure to someone with COVID-19 also should wear a mask."

Juthani said the CDC updates show just how far we have come since the early days of the pandemic.

"We will remain vigilant and continue to monitor COVID-19 as we move to a new phase of this pandemic," she said. "We will monitor wastewater levels of SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19 cases in our communities, vaccination rates, and emergence of possible variants so that we can be prepared for future surges of the virus. Thank you to the residents of Connecticut who have used all the tools at our disposal to help us get to this stage."

Amending School Orders

This news came less than two days after DPH Public Health Commissioner Manisha Juthani, MD signed a Commissioner’s Order which amends a current order in place regarding the universal masking requirement for schools, health care facilities, childcare facilities, correction facilities and indoor transportation hubs.

The order states — Subject to the exemption provided in Executive Order No. 13A, all individuals, regardless of vaccination status, shall wear a face-covering mask:

1. Inside PreK-12 public or non-public (e.g., "private", "independent", " boarding", etc.) school buildings, excluding residential dormitories, if a local or regional board of education or similar body governing a nonpublic school or schools requires the use of appropriate face-covering masks;

2. In any areas accessible by patients or clients* inside a licensed healthcare facility, or other healthcare setting, including, but not limited to:

a. hospitals, outpatient clinics, nursing homes (in compliance with, and as required by, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services), assisted living services agencies and other institutions as defined in

Conn. Gen. Statutes Section 19a-490;

b. outpatient healthcare settings, including doctors' offices, urgent care centers, dental offices, physical/occupational therapy offices, chiropractic offices, medical spas and blood-collection facilities;

c. clinical laboratories as defined in Conn. Gen. Statutes Section 19a-30; and

d. congregate living settings, including residential care homes and group homes, when healthcare or supportive services are being provided;

3. Inside homeless shelters or other shelters, such as temporary shelter operations.

*Patients or clients in these settings can remove masks when they are alone in an examining room, when in rooms by themselves or socially distanced from others, when the procedures or services being provided require the removal of such mask, or when the patient/client is unable to tolerate masking due to clinical status.

"We have come extremely far thanks to the people of Connecticut who have gotten vaccinated and boosted, have worn masks, and who have been tested when experiencing symptoms," Juthani said. "And while we may have to get used to ramping up our mitigation strategies for any future variants and likely on a seasonal basis, this order reinforces the fact that Connecticut continues to trend in the right direction in terms of COVID-19 case and hospitalization rates."

Newtown Community Center

Locally and in alignment with the Office of Early Childhood and the Department of Public Health, the Newtown Community Center will release mask mandates for all youth program participants regardless of vaccination status.

The facility will operate as a mask optional facility.

"Those who continue to wear their mask will be supported in their choice and masks will readily available at the Community Center Welcome Desk," said Director Matt Ariniello.

"While we are happy to see things moving in a positive direction, we ask that you continue to monitor for any symptoms of COVID19 or other illnesses and refrain from entering our facilities or programs if you are unwell," Ariniello added.