COVID: Don’t Let Your Guard Down

August 10, 2021
Employee Health and Wellness

We all had a sigh of relief when COVID-19 vaccinations became available and mask mandates began dropping. Unfortunately, as you know, the original virus strain and now the Delta variant are still very much with us. We thank all staff for your ongoing dedication to our residents and clients, and for your commitment to staying healthy.     

Despite the new surge in cases, people nationwide are enjoying getting back to activities like shopping, eating in restaurants, and going to the movies. But we still need to be cautious. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued the following updates, which we strongly advise all staff to follow when they are at home or out in public.  

Recommendations for vaccinated people 

Infections happen in only a small proportion of people who are fully vaccinated, even with the Delta variant. However, preliminary evidence suggests that fully vaccinated people who do become infected with the Delta variant can spread the virus to others. To reduce their risk of becoming infected with the Delta variant and potentially spreading it to others, the most recent CDC recommendations (July 27, 2021) advise fully vaccinated people to: 

  • Wear a mask in public indoor settings if they are in an area of substantial or high transmission.
    • Fully vaccinated people might choose to mask regardless of the level of transmission, particularly if they or someone in their household is immunocompromised or at increased risk for severe disease, or if someone in their household is unvaccinated. People who are at increased risk for severe disease include older adults and those who have certain medical conditions, such as diabetes, overweight or obesity, and heart conditions. 
  • Get tested if experiencing COVID-19 symptoms. 
  • Get tested 3-5 days following a known exposure to someone with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 and wear a mask in public indoor settings for 14 days after exposure or until a negative test result. 
  • Isolate if they have tested positive for COVID-19 in the prior 10 days or are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms. 
  • Follow any applicable federal, state, local, tribal, or territorial laws, rules, and regulations. 

People who are immunocompromised should follow current prevention measures (including wearing a mask, staying 6 feet apart from others they don’t live with, and avoiding crowds and poorly ventilated indoor spaces) regardless of their vaccination status to protect themselves against COVID-19 until advised otherwise by their healthcare provider. 

Recommendations for outdoor settings 

Current data suggest the risk of transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in outdoor settings is minimal. In general, fully vaccinated people do not need to wear a mask outdoors. Fully vaccinated people might choose to wear a mask in crowded outdoor settings if they or someone in their household is immunocompromised. 

Travel 

Fully vaccinated travelers are less likely to get and spread SARS-CoV-2 and can now travel at low risk to themselves within the United States. International travelers need to pay close attention to the situation at their international destinations before traveling due to the spread of new variants and because the burden of COVID-19 varies globally. 

Wearing a mask over your nose and mouth is required on planes, buses, trains, and other forms of public transportation traveling into, within, or out of the United States and while indoors at U.S. transportation hubs such as airports and stations. Travelers are not required to wear a mask in outdoor areas of a conveyance (like on open deck areas of a ferry or the uncovered top deck of a bus). 

Protecting ourselves and others 

“We must continue to take personal responsibility to protect ourselves and our loved ones,” said Dr. Jerome Adams, the surgeon general of the U.S. “Even though not all of us risk a severe case of the virus, we all risk getting the virus and spreading it to others – maybe without realizing we’re sick.” The same is true even for those who have been vaccinated. So please, don’t let your guard down – do what you can to keep the virus from gaining even more ground.