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

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. That's up from around a third of Americans last week. 

More than 16% of Americans now live in areas of "high" COVID-19 Community Levels, up from just 9% last week. At this tier, which reflects the worst levels of disease in the agency's guidance, the CDC says all Americans should don masks in public indoor settings, regardless of vaccination – including in schools. 

An additional 29% now live in areas of "medium" levels of disease, up from 23% last week. At that level, the CDC urges Americans to consider wearing masks and testing before indoor contact with people at high risk of severe disease, like older adults or those with underlying conditions.