The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is now recommending universal masking in nine New Jersey counties.
COVID transmission rates are increasing in all 21 counties, but transmission levels have reached the CDC's highest tier in Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Gloucester, Monmouth, Morris, Ocean and Sussex counties.
According to the CDC, in areas where transmission is high, individuals should "wear a well-fitting mask indoors in public, regardless of vaccination status or individual risk (including in K-12 schools and other community settings.)"
New Jersey is seeing an average of 3,701 new positive COVID tests per day, which is a 37% increase from a week ago. The rate of transmission is 1.25, indicating an active spread of the coronavirus.