Courtesy Image An illustration of the coronavirus provided by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

ALPENA — The federal government again recommends Alpena County residents mask up to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

For the first time in months, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has labeled the county an area of high risk for COVID-19 spread.

The CDC recommends people in Alpena County wear a mask in public, regardless of vaccination status. Those at high risk of getting sick, such as the elderly or those with compromised immune systems, should avoid unnecessary indoor public activities, the CDC says.

Presque Isle, Montmorency, and Alcona counties remained areas of medium risk, according to the CDC. In such areas, those most at risk should mask up when indoors in public, according to the public health agency, but others don’t need to wear a mask.

The new warnings from public health experts come as the state reported 148 new coronavirus infections in the last month in Alpena County, the largest one-month total since May 2022.

The state reported two Alpena County residents died after contracting the virus in the last month.

Across Presque Isle, Montmorency, and Alcona counties, the state reported 64 new infections in the last month, and one person died after contracting the virus.

Meanwhile, Northeast Michiganders appear to have given up on vaccinations, with vaccination rates largely unchanged for more than a year.

Across Alpena, Presque Isle, Montmorency, and Alcona counties, about 59% of people have taken at least the complete first round of coronavirus inoculations, according to state data. About 40% have received at least one booster dose, according to the state.