powered by LeadingAge New York
  1. Home
  2. » Topics
  3. » Coronavirus Resources
  4. » Guidance by Service Line
  5. » General
  6. » CDC Guidance
  7. » CDC Issues Updated Guidance Regarding Mask Wearing and Exposures

CDC Issues Updated Guidance Regarding Mask Wearing and Exposures

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued updated guidance as of July 27th in light of new evidence on the B.1.617.2 (Delta) variant currently circulating in the United States. Below is a summary of the key changes pertinent to LeadingAge NY members. The CDC:

  • Added a recommendation for fully vaccinated people to wear a mask in public indoor settings in areas of substantial or high transmission. This website provides more information on those standards and provides a searchable tool to determine if you are in an area of substantial or high transmission. At the time of this writing, almost half of the counties in New York have met this threshold.
  • Added information that fully vaccinated people might choose to wear a mask regardless of the level of transmission, particularly if they are immunocompromised or at increased risk for severe disease from COVID-19, or if they have someone in their household who is immunocompromised, at increased risk of severe disease, or not fully vaccinated.
  • Added a recommendation for fully vaccinated people who have a known exposure to someone with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 to be tested three to five days after exposure and to wear a mask in public indoor settings for 14 days or until they receive a negative test result.

While the New York State Department of Health (DOH) has not issued updated guidance specific to regulated entities regarding these changes, much of their guidance in recent months has referred to CDC guidance. Further, these are critical protective measures against this variant, particularly for vulnerable populations. Thus, we urge all members to adhere to this guidance, even if it exceeds current State guidance.

Contact: Diane Darbyshire, ddarbyshire@leadingageny.org, 518-867-8828