By PHYLLIS ZORN

Staff writer

Marion County now is in what the Centers for Disease Control classifies a COVID-19 “red” zone, meaning the virus is spreading so rapidly that everyone should wear a mask in public, indoor settings regardless of whether they are vaccinated.

As of Tuesday, the county health department reported a slight dip in the number of people with active cases of COVID-19, but state data show one more diagnosis this week than in the prior week.

So far this month, 108 Marion County residents have been diagnosed with COVID.

From Sept. 1 to 21, 2020, only 16 county residents were diagnosed with COVID.

The health department reported 56 active cases Tuesday, compared to 63 a week ago. One person was hospitalized each week.

Kansas Department of Health and Environment data show 35 new COVID diagnoses during the past week. That’s one more than the 34 cases reported the week before.

CDC recommends that all students age 2 and older, teachers, staff, and school visitors should be masked at all times because of the highly contagious COVID-19 Delta variant.

Besides wearing masks, CDC recommends student desks be at least three feet apart. Screening tests, good ventilation, hand washing, respiratory etiquette, contact tracing, and disinfection also are recommended.

CDC recommends also that if a fully vaccinated person is known to have been exposed to someone with COVID, the vaccinated person should be tested within three to five days.