As companies of all types and sizes continue to deal with the potential legal implications of the COVID-19 pandemic for their businesses, Jackson Walker provides insights and resources on the COVID-19 Legal Resources & Insights site.
On July 27, 2021, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated its guidance for fully vaccinated individuals to prevent further spread of COVID-19 and the Delta variant.
Pursuant to the new guidance, the CDC recommends that fully vaccinated people wear masks indoors when in areas with “substantial” and “high” transmission of COVID-19. The CDC defines a person as “fully vaccinated” either two weeks after their second dose in a two-dose series (such as the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines) or two weeks after a single dose vaccine (such as Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen vaccine).
The CDC has provided a map to illustrate levels of community transmission in each county across the United States. According to the CDC’s map, most counties in Texas are in a “substantial” or “high” level of community transmission.
In addition to updated mask guidance in areas of “substantial” or “high” transmission, the CDC recommends the following for fully vaccinated individuals:
- Wearing a mask regardless of the community transmission level if you have a weakened immune system or if you are at increased risk for severe disease due to age or an underlying medical condition.
- Getting tested within 3-5 days after exposure if you have been around someone who has COVID-19 even if you do not have symptoms. You should also wear a mask indoors in public for 14 days following exposure or until your test result is negative and isolate for 10 days if your test result is positive.
- Watching out for symptoms of COVID-19 especially if you have been around someone who is sick. If you have symptoms of COVID-19, you should get tested and stay home until receipt of test results.
If you are a private employer and would like to discuss how the CDC recommendations impact your business, please contact a Jackson Walker attorney to discuss further. Any additional updates on this issue will be published at JW.com/Coronavirus.
Related Resources:
- JW Coronavirus Insights & Resources microsite »
- COVID-19 & Your Business: Frequent Questions »
- JW Fast Takes Podcasts & Webinars »
- Sign Up for JW eAlerts »
Please note: This article and any resources presented on the JW Coronavirus Insights & Resources site are for informational purposes only, do not constitute legal or medical advice, and are not a substitute for legal advice from qualified counsel. The laws of other states and nations may be entirely different from what is described. Your use of these materials does not create an attorney-client relationship between you and Jackson Walker. The facts and results of each case will vary, and no particular result can be guaranteed.
