The combination of the surging Delta COVID 19 variant coupled with large swaths of the American Public (either because of historical anxieties of treatment of minority populations or listening to Know Nothing-science denying leaders and pundits,) refusing to take the Coronavirus Vaccine, has forced the Center for Disease Control (CDC) to issue new recommended guidelines on July 27, 2021, advising vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals wear masks in indoor locations where COVID rates are high and in all schools.
In remarks to reporters, CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said:
“In areas with substantial and high transmission, CDC recommends fully vaccinated people wear masks in public indoor settings to help prevent the spread of the Delta variant and protect others. This includes schools. CDC recommends that everyone in K-12 schools wear a mask indoors, including teachers, staff, students, and visitors, regardless of vaccination status. With the Delta variant, vaccinating more Americans now is more urgent than ever. The highest spread of cases and severe outcomes is happening in places with low vaccination rates, and among unvaccinated people. This moment, and most importantly the associated illness, suffering, and death, could have been avoided with higher vaccination coverage in this country.”
Shortly after the release of the new CDC guidance, Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction Kathy Hoffman posted on social media:
My statement on @CDCgov's updated mask guidance: pic.twitter.com/YNhRTrBfWR
— Kathy Hoffman (@Supt_Hoffman) July 27, 2021
Over the last couple of weeks, the Superintendent has been recommending this and other mitigation strategies to stem the COVID rise in schools.
Readers need to remember that children 12 and under do not yet have a Coronavirus vaccination they can take.
They should also note that there are still children 13 and older, their parents, and some educators, mostly through choice, that have not received their vaccinations yet.
Finally, people should know that even if you are fully vaccinated, there is still a chance to contract COVID 19 in a milder form.
These are the most recent COVID rates across the country.
Note how Arizona is currently faring.
It is among the highest in new Coronavirus cases across the country.
If you click here on the CDC Data Tracker site, as of now (July 27, 2025,) there is not one county in Arizona that is low in COVID 19 transmissions. Maricopa, Pinal, Gila, Navajo, Apache, Yavapai, and Mohave Counties are currently in the high transmission range.
According to the CDC, only 36.5 percent of the residents in Maricopa County have been fully vaccinated.
Coconino County leads the Grand Canyon State with just under 54 percent fully vaccinated.
Apache County is last with 18 percent.
Clearly, Mr. Ducey and Republican’s position on not mandating mask-wearing or vaccinations across the state and relying on everyone to do the right thing is not working. They may want to rethink their stance on mandates before more people (the great majority of them being their voters) die.
Those individuals and families that have chosen not to get a vaccination need to think of their responsibility to others and get one. They should also wear masks to help contain the spread.
School has already started in some parts of Arizona.
Think of the children going to class, especially the ones under 12 that do not have a vaccine to take.
Wear a mask.
Get a Coronavirus vaccine if you have not already done so.
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