Carbon, Lehigh, Monroe, Northampton and Schuylkill counties are now all classified as having high transmission rates, according the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

There are four levels of COVID-19 community transmission: low, moderate, substantial and high. Low is reflected by having 0 to 10 new cases per 100,000 people in the past seven days, moderate 10 to 49, substantial 50 to 99 and high 100 or more. The percent positivity rating is as follows: 0 to 5 %, 5 to 8%, 8 to 10%, and 10% or greater.

The CDC recommends wearing a mask indoors in public if you live in an area with substantial or high transmission. Most of the country is classified as having high transmission. Nationally, 71% of adults have a dose of the vaccine.

Schuylkill County instituted mask wearing for visitors and employees inside county facilities effective now. Schuylkill County Emergency Management Coordinator John Matz said Monday the approach is the correct one.

“We are starting to see cases rise and to me it looks similar to August and September,” of last year, he said.

He said “masking up” is a good first step in combating the pandemic. Maintaining social distancing, proper hygiene and other efforts are helpful.

Vaccination rates have been “lagging significantly” in the last few weeks.

Among the 20 to 30 ages vaccinations have gone up about 5%, 30 to 40 about 5%, and approximately 2.5 percent among those ages 40 to 49 and 50 to 59. Rates for those 14 and under have increased by 4.5 percent and about 9 percent of those 15 to 19 years old.

The older population has the highest vaccination rates with 60 and older at 75.2, 70 and older 86.6 and 80 and above at 71.6.

In Schuylkill County, at least 61 percent of residents have at least one shot, CDC data show.

According to CDC data, Carbon County shows a percent positivity rate of 4.95, Lehigh County 8.15, Monroe 8.95 and Northampton 9.37 for the week of Aug. 6-12.