MAYVILLE — Chautauqua County officials are asking the public to be diligent and use the necessary precautions — including wearing face masks when appropriate — due to an uptick in new confirmed cases of COVID-19.

Christine Schuyler, county public health director, said the county is assuming the highly contagious Delta variant of the virus is spreading in the community. Since Aug. 1, there have been more than a 100 new confirmed cases.

Schuyler spoke with County Executive PJ Wendel during a news conference in Mayville.

In the past day, the CDC level of community transmission in Chautauqua County has risen from moderate to substantial. 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.

The CDC guidelines are only recommendations.

Schuyler said the recent increase in cases is likely the result of the variant spreading in the community, primarily from those who are not vaccinated. She did note that there are confirmed instances in which a person who has been partially and fully vaccinated test positive for COVID-19. However, the vast majority of new cases are in those not vaccinated.

“We are assuming we are seeing the Delta variant based on the uptick of cases,” she said.

The seven-day positivity rate, the number of confirmed cases compared to the number of tests administered, has risen in the county to 4.8%.