Masks are now mandatory indoors at the Naval Support Activity Naples Capodichino and Gricignano di Aversa sites, regardless of vaccination status, the base said in a post to its Facebook page Thursday. (Erik Slavin/Stars and Stripes)

NAPLES, Italy — The high number of delta variant cases of COVID-19 in Italy's southern Campania region has triggered a mandatory indoor mask order at Naval Support Activity Naples, base officials said Thursday.  

Indoor masks at the NSA Naples Capodichino and Gricignano di Aversa sites are now mandatory regardless of vaccination status, the base said in a post to its Facebook page. Mask wearing outdoors is required if social distancing of 6 feet or more cannot be maintained.

Italy reported 69 COVID-19 deaths Wednesday, an increase over 54 the day before, according to the Italian Health Ministry. New infections grew to 7,162 from 5,273. In Campania, 336 people with COVID-19 were in the hospital Wednesday and another 20 were in intensive care. There were 558 new cases.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says community transmission levels are substantial when new cases average 50 to 99.99 per 100,000 people over seven days.

Exceptions to the NSA Naples mandatory indoor mask order include people in their own home, those working alone in an office with a closed door, or those eating or drinking with proper social distancing.

Children under 2 years old, people with a documented medical necessity and those actively working out in a gym also were excluded from wearing a mask indoors, the base said.