Monkeypox spreads in different ways. The virus can spread from person-to-person through:
It’s also possible for people to get monkeypox from infected animals, either by being scratched or bitten by the animal or by preparing or eating meat or using products from an infected animal.
Monkeypox can spread from the time symptoms start until the rash has fully healed and a fresh layer of skin has formed. The illness typically lasts 2-4 weeks. People who do not have monkeypox symptoms cannot spread the virus to others. At this time, it is not known if monkeypox can spread through semen or vaginal fluids.
For more information, visit our monkeypox page.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control has relaxed mask recommendations for those living in areas of low or moderate risk based on a new formula that takes into account hospitalizations, hospital capacity and case numbers.
The new CDC formula ranks counties by Low, Medium and High, and the Kentucky Department of Public Health will follow these guidelines, only recommending masking in high-ranking areas. The information can be found on the CDC website, and it has been added to Kentucky’s Kycovid19.ky.gov, taking the place of the incidence rate map. Kentucky will measure counties in a traffic-light system with Green-Low, Yellow-Medium and Red-High.
Under the new CDC metric for community levels, last calculated on Feb. 24, only Trimble County falls into the Medium level, while Henry, Shelby and Spencer all continue to rate as High.
Kentucky Department of Public Health Director Dr. Steven Stack noted this same system will be applied to schools, and prevention strategies will increase or decrease based on the number of cases in schools. Schools are also adjusting their bus policies based on the new guidelines.
While these guidelines account for removing mask recommendations and more around much of the country, nearly all of Kentucky – along with surrounding states of West Virginia, Virginia and Tennessee – currently remains in the high level.
