Huntsville health officials stop short of calling for a mask mandate Health officials support the new CDC guidance recommending masks indoors, but don't believe it should be required. Posted: Aug 4, 2021 5:11 PM Updated: Aug 4, 2021 5:40 PM Posted By: Alex Torres-Perez Madison County is seeing a rise in COVID cases that we haven't seen in months! Most of the state, including all of North Alabama, is considered to be at a high community transmission level. The test positivity rate in Madison County is at 17.5%. It's even higher across the state! That's why local leaders held their first COVID briefing in months to keep the community updated on the situation. No city official was at that meeting, but WAAY 31 asked local health officials what precautions need to be taken now as we see a COVID surge.