Alarming Delta Variant COVID-19 Cases Rising, Collin County Officials Say It’s Time To Mask Up Again

When the COVID-19 vaccines were introduced in January, thousands of North Texans waited in queues at megacentres across the region. In Collin County officials used the McKinney ISD football stadium. Elsewhere, the Cotton Bowl in Dallas and the Texas Motor Speedway in Denton County served as megacentres.

Soon, fully vaccinated people were being told by health officials that they could be exposed in rooms full of vaccinated strangers.

But now the masks are coming back.

On Tuesday, the CDC recommended that even fully vaccinated people must wear a mask when in buildings or rooms where local health officials are finding high and significant transmission of COVID-19.

#DeltaVariant on the rise in the US New data shows Delta is much more contagious than previous versions of # COVID19. Unvaccinated people: get vaccinated and mask until you do. Everyone in areas of significant / high transmission should wear a mask, even if they are vaccinated. https://t.co/tt49zOEC8N

– CDC (@CDCgov) July 27, 2021 Tweet from the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention on July 27, 2021.

Collin County fits into that category, and officials recommend local people wear a mask in public whether or not they have been vaccinated.

The CDC cited concerns about the Delta variant of the coronavirus in announcing the latest masking recommendations on Tuesday. Health officials say the variant can cause “breakthrough infections,” which means that people who are fully vaccinated can become infected with the variant.

A spokesman for Collin County Health Care Services said three COVID-19 cases were caused by the Delta variant.

Surrounding counties such as Dallas and Denton are in the red on the CDC’s map tracking the severity of the spread of COVID-19. Confirmed COVID-19 cases have increased across Texas this summer, according to the state’s COVID-19 dashboard, which is tracking cases and deaths. There were just over 1,000 active cases in Collin County as of Wednesday.

Collin County does not have its own mask mandate for local businesses. Not that the officials here could do it, even if they thought it was necessary. In May, Texas Governor Greg Abbott issued an executive order banning county and city governments from enforcing masking requirements. That doesn’t mean, however, that Collin County’s health officials believe that people without a mask should go out in public, covering their noses and mouths – especially in crowded rooms.

“At large gatherings, an amusement park or a baseball game, we encourage people, even if they are vaccinated, to do their best to mask and maintain social distance,” said CCHCS spokesman Darrell Willis II on Wednesday morning. “We agree that individuals should take the advice of the CDC and the [state health department]. “

Willis added that the county will not be involved in enforcing these recommendations. In this way, Collin County’s officials are doing what they have been doing throughout the pandemic.

“Collin County decided that it was up to the people to make the best decision for themselves,” Willis said of wearing masks.

While Collin County’s vaccination rates exceed these nationwide, the county is actively involved in vaccinating people.

On Monday, the district passed its plan to use mobile vaccination teams to reach people who are tied to their homes or those who would otherwise not be able to reach a local pharmacy or doctor’s office to get a vaccine here.

At no direct cost, people in long-term care facilities that are at home and even local businesses can request that a mobile team deliver and administer vaccines to people who need them. According to a press release, the district pays for this with grants.

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