CDC Loosens Its Guidelines on COVID-19 Restrictions for Vaccinated Workers

With the level of COVID-19 vaccinations on the rise, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released new guidelines saying that fully vaccinated employees may safely gather indoors without wearing a mask. However, the CDC is still advising that they maintain safety procedures. 

For purposes of the new guidelines, the CDC advises that people are considered fully vaccinated two weeks after either their second dose in a two-dose series, like the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, or after a single-dose vaccine, like the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. The CDC warns that if it has been less than two weeks since a person’s last shot, or if they still need to get their second dose, they are not fully protected and should still observe prevention measures until they are fully vaccinated. Here are the highlights of the CDC’s new guidelines:

What’s Changed for Vaccinated Individuals?

• They can gather indoors with fully vaccinated people without wearing a mask, if permitted by their employer or other establishment.
• They can gather indoors with unvaccinated people from one other household (for example, visiting with relatives who all live together) without masks, unless any of those people or anyone they live with has an increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19.
• If they’ve been around someone who has COVID-19, they do not need to stay away from others or get tested unless they have symptoms or their employer mandates it. However, if they live or work in a group setting (like a correctional or detention facility or group home) and are around someone who has COVID-19, they should still stay away from others for 14 days and get tested, even if they don’t have symptoms.

What Hasn’t Changed for Fully Vaccinated Individuals?

• They should still take steps to protect themselves and others in many settings, like wearing a mask, staying at least 6 feet apart from others, and avoiding crowds and poorly ventilated spaces. These precautions should be taken whenever:
• In public
• Gathering with unvaccinated people from more than one other household
• Visiting with an unvaccinated person who is at increased risk of severe illness or death from COVID-19 or who lives with a person at increased risk
• They should still avoid medium and large gatherings.
• They should delay domestic and international travel, and if traveling, follow CDC requirements and recommendations.
• They need to watch out for symptoms of COVID-19, especially if they have been around someone who is sick. If showing symptoms of COVID-19, they should get tested and stay home and away from others.
• They should still follow safety guidance in the workplace.

Please contact Mark Fijman or any member of Phelps’ Labor and Employment team if you have questions.