Updated: 2 N.J. counties now considered ‘high’ risk for transmitting COVID

20 counties are ranked either ‘high’ or ‘substantial’ — meaning CDC recommends mask wearing indoors, even for those vaccinated

(Editor’s Note: This report was updated Thursday, Aug. 8, with new information. Click here for that report.)

Last week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said anyone in a county where the risk of transmission of COVID-19 was “substantial” or “high” should wear a mask in crowded indoor locations — even if you have been vaccinated.

This weekend, the number of counties in the “high” category increased to two, as Cape May joined Monmouth in the designation.

On Monday, three more counties were listed as having “substantial” risk of transmission, bringing that total to 18.

Only one county (Warren) was rated as having “moderate” risk. No county was judged to be in the “low” category.

Here are the rankings as of Monday. They are updated daily, here.

Here’s a county-by-county list:

  • Atlantic: Substantial
  • Bergen: Substantial
  • Burlington: Substantial
  • Camden: Substantial
  • Cape May: High
  • Cumberland: Substantial
  • Essex: Substantial
  • Gloucester: Substantial
  • Hudson: Substantial
  • Hunterdon: Substantial
  • Mercer: Substantial
  • Middlesex: Substantial
  • Monmouth: High
  • Morris: Substantial
  • Ocean: Substantial
  • Passaic: Substantial
  • Salem: Substantial
  • Somerset: Substantial
  • Sussex: Substantial
  • Union: Substantial
  • Warren: Moderate