Per Summit County Department of Public Health:
COVID-19 Masking Health Advisory
August 3, 2021
As of Tuesday, July 27, 2021 the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is
recommending that everyone including fully vaccinated individuals wear a mask in public indoor
setting in areas with high COVID transmission. This update is necessary to help with the
prevention of the spread of the Delta variant of COVID-19. When the CDC revised its guidance
in May, the Delta variant represented 1% of all cases. Today, that number has grown to more
than 80%. The CDC continues to recommend that local policies be based on local transmission
rates.
Summit County has also seen an increase in the Delta COVID-19 variant. The Delta variant is
the predominant COVID-19 strain circulating in Summit County, and is infecting both
vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals. The Delta variant is highly contagious, and according
to the CDC it appears to be more contagious than the flu, common cold and just as contagious as
chicken pox. While vaccination remains our best defense against the COVID-19 virus, Summit
County Public Health, wants residents to be aware that vaccinated and fully vaccinated
individuals are able to spread the Delta virus.
Summit County Public Health, in collaboration with Akron Children’s Hospital, Cleveland
Clinic Akron General and Summa Health are advising Summit County residents to follow CDC
guidance to wear masks when they are in indoor public places. Masking along with social
distancing and regular disinfecting is highly effective in stopping the spread of COVID-19.
While Summit County remains at moderate level we are experiencing increasing daily case
counts, and it is important to stop the spread before Summit County reaches substantial or high
infection rates. You can find the latest data for COVID-19 in Summit County at:
www.scph.org/covid.
It remains a priority for children to physically be in school. In order for students to stay safe with
this highly contagious variant, it is the recommendation of Summit County Public Health and
Akron Children’s Hospital that all staff, students and visitors in the school setting should be
masked while indoors except if they are seated and eating/drinking or participating in athletic
activity. Masking along with social distancing of at least three feet will help lower transmission
risks for both vaccinated and unvaccinated staff and students. Schools should be aware that
consistent and correct mask use, in addition to the maximizing of physical distancing, are needed
to allow unvaccinated students to remain in the classroom setting following a potential classroom
exposure. Masking on school buses is required based on the order issued by the CDC on January
29, 2021 requiring all conveyance operators to require masking. Schools are required to notify
Public Health of all positive cases within 24 hours of becoming aware of a student, teacher, staff
member, or coach who has tested positive or been diagnosed with COVID-19.
Individuals experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, should stay at home and isolate from other
household members and be tested for COVID-19. Summit County Public Health offers free
COVID-19 testing for students, school staff and their families, please contact your school to
schedule a testing appointment. Local area pharmacies and healthcare providers also offer
COVID-19 testing opportunities call for more information.
Vaccination for COVID-19 still remains our best defense against this virus, any future variants
and ending this pandemic. Getting vaccinated prevents severe illness, hospitalization and death;
it also helps reduce the spread of COVID-19. Summit County residents, who would like to
receive the COVID-19 vaccine in your home, please call our call center at 330-926-5795 or visit
http://tiny.cc/schomevax to schedule an appointment. All three vaccines are available through
our homebased vaccination program.