It might be time to mask up again.

Chautauqua County entered the “substantial transmission” category for COVID-19 on Tuesday, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Under CDC guidelines updated July 27, everyone — even the fully vaccinated — should wear masks in public indoor settings in areas of “substantial” and “high” COVID-19 transmission. Mask wearing is considered optional in “low” and “moderate” transmission areas.

Chautauqua County was considered “low” transmission for most of July until the 26th, and was then in the “moderate” category until Monday. The categories are determined using seven-day rolling averages of COVID-19 transmissions.

Of course, the CDC’s mask guidelines, which have changed numerous times during the pandemic, are not enforceable by law. That’s a state matter — and with Albany in disarray after Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s resignation, it seems highly unlikely any new statewide mask mandate is coming soon.

Before he announced he would step down in two weeks, Cuomo’s administration was moving toward allowing more local oversight of COVID-19 matters. Shari Rater, administrative assistant to Chautauqua County Health and Human Services Department Director Christine Schulyer, said Tuesday afternoon that their department had no immediate comment on the change to “substantial” transmission category.

However, she noted that County Executive PJ Wendel will be giving a press conference at 10 a.m. this morning at the County Legislature chambers in Mayville to update the county’s COVID-19 situation. Schuyler, and possibly other members of the county COVID-19 response team, will join Wendel.

The CDC recommends that unvaccinated people should wear masks, regardless of local transmission rates, until they get vaccinated. Face coverings inside school settings are also recommended by the CDC for all, regardless of vaccination status or transmission rates.

Meanwhile, the county Department of Health reported 12 new cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday in addition to 84 active cases, five people with the virus in the hospital and 186 in quarantine.

To date there have been 9,449 total confirmed cases, 9,206 recoveries and 159 virus-related deaths.