July 27, 2021 – On July 27, 2021, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (“CDC”) issued public health guidance recommending that fully vaccinated individuals resume wearing a mask in public indoor settings in areas of “substantial or high transmission.” A county’s or parish’s transmission level is based on two metrics: new COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people and the COVID-19 testing positivity rate, both measured over the last seven days. “Substantial” transmission is 50 to 100 cases per 100,000, or a positivity rate between 8% and 10%, and “high” transmission is 100 or more cases per 100,000 people or a positivity rate of 10% or higher. Currently, the majority of counties and parishes in the U.S. are considered to have either a substantial or high transmission rate. The CDC guidance also indicates that if a fully vaccinated individual has had a close contact with someone with a suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19 and shows no symptoms of COVID-19, he or she need not self-isolate. However, the CDC recommends that the exposed individual take a COVID-19 test 3-5 days following the exposure and wear a mask in public indoor settings for 14 days after the exposure or a negative test result. If a fully vaccinated person does test positive for COVID-19, the CDC recommends that the individual self-isolate for a period of 10 days following the positive test result, even if the individual displays no symptoms. Note that the CDC recommends that unvaccinated persons self-isolate for 14 days following an exposure. The full text of the updated CDC guidance can be found here: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/fully-vaccinated-guidance.html

Because legal developments pertaining to COVID-19 are constantly evolving, we recommend that our clients contact The Kullman Firm attorney(s) with whom they work for the most current guidance on these matters.