Nearly half of Americans live in areas where they should consider masking, CDC data says

Key Facts

May 19, 2022 / 9:06 PM / CBS News Nearly half of Americans live in areas where they should consider masking indoors to curb a surge in COVID-19 cases, according to data updated Thursday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The boroughs of New York City now rank among the most populous counties in the country at "high" COVID-19 levels.
Getty Images The city joins much of the region, which has been at "high" levels of COVID-19 for weeks, as counties have recorded spikes in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations – especially among the oldest, most vulnerable age groups.
"For areas currently with high COVID-19 community levels — those in orange — we urge local leaders to encourage use of prevention strategies like masking in public indoor settings and increasing access to testing and to treatment," CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky told reporters on Wednesday, ahead of the updated figures.