Over the last week of February, the CDC outlined new pointers based mostly on the chance ranges in every state stating that the majority People dwelling in medium or low threat areas can take a break from masks. On Thursday, the CDC mentioned that 90% of People stay in areas the place masks ought to be non-compulsory.

Knox County went from being at excessive threat to medium threat in solely a few days.

There are three classes of group COVID-19 degree — low, medium and excessive. Individuals in low threat areas are suggested to remain up to date on COVID-19 associated information and get examined when suspicious of any signs.

Residents of medium threat counties, like Knox County, additionally want to remain updated, ask their healthcare suppliers about masks if they’re prone to contracting COVID-19 and get examined. Residents of excessive threat counties have to do the identical as medium threat ones however put on a masks indoors.

That is additionally implies that hospitalization charges are additionally on a downward pattern, which is one thing that was on a steady rise in the beginning of the pandemic in March of 2020.

CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky mentioned that anybody can put on a masks in the event that they want to, and that their precedence was watching hospitalization charges and holding individuals knowledgeable.

“We need to make certain our hospitals are OK and individuals are not coming in with extreme illness,” Walensky mentioned. “Anybody can go to the CDC web site, discover out the amount of illness of their group and make that call.”

The brand new pointers don’t change guidelines on public transportation, airports, bus or prepare stations.

Immunity is on the rise as properly with extra People getting vaccinated and boosted in addition to the immunity from earlier an infection.

Friday morning, Chancellor Donde Plowman despatched an e mail that introduced the start of the tip of particular COVID-19 pointers on campus. This contains the signage about masks being modified to encourage routine well being hygiene and staying at residence when college students, workers and school don’t really feel properly.

“We shall be updating our campus masks signage to mirror broader well being messages of staying residence in case you are not feeling properly and training good well being hygiene,” Plowman mentioned. “Carrying a masks is at all times an choice for any particular person who chooses to take action.”

Plowman’s e mail suggests a transition in campus coverage away from campus-wide pointers and in the direction of particular person selection. On campus, the case numbers have dropped to the only digits which mirrored the drop in case numbers in Knoxville itself as the town and state proceed to open up.

Dr. Spencer Gregg, director of the Scholar Well being Middle, additionally mentioned that college students and school are inspired to remain updated on COVID-19 vaccines and testing. The Scholar Well being Middle presents fast testing for these displaying signs in addition to some pharmacies within the space, just like the Walgreens on Cumberland Avenue.

“At the moment, out numbers on campus and in Knox County proceed to pattern downwards. The college encourages college students, school, and workers to remain updated on COVID-19 vaccinations and presents free vaccines, boosters and COVID-19 exams on the Scholar Well being Middle,” Gregg mentioned.

Info on COVID-19 sources might be discovered on the Scholar Well being Middle’s web site in addition to UT’s coronavirus web site.