Today (07/27/21), the CDC released new guidance on masking and other issues for fully-vaccinated individuals. As a result, we recommend employers update their return-to-work policies, including the Minnesota Preparedness Plan or equivalent safety plan, to address the new guidance.

Here are the major take-aways:

• Fully-vaccinated individuals should now wear a mask in public indoor settings in areas of substantial or high transmission. You can look up your area at this link. At this time, the Twin Cities metropolitan counties are not considered areas of “substantial or high transmission,” with the exception of Scott County.
• Regardless of location, fully-vaccinated individuals should now wear a mask following a known exposure to someone with suspected or confirmed COVID-19. The duration is 14 days, but this can be shortened if tested 3-5 days after exposure with a negative result. Vaccinated individuals still do not need to quarantine after an exposure if they are asymptomatic.
• Universal masking is now recommended for “all teachers, staff, students, and visitors to schools, regardless of vaccination status.”