Last week, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updated their safety recommendations for vaccinated individuals, recommendations that have already been adopted by Napa County. The California Department of Public Health has joined the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in suggesting, but not mandating, the use of masks by employees and guests while indoors, including for those already vaccinated.
The CDC updated its guidelines for fully vaccinated Americans last Tuesday as the highly transmissible delta variant continues to fuel a rise in new COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations in California and across the nation. The CDC’s new mask guidance for fully vaccinated people applies to areas where COVID-19 transmission rates have been identified as “substantial” or “high” by federal health officials.
In Napa County, 30 more coronavirus cases have been reported since Tuesday and seven people were hospitalized with the virus Wednesday. Community transmission rates are currently designated as “high” here in Napa County, according to the CDC.
Some public and private employers are going even further and requiring vaccination or recent proof of a negative COVID-19 test. You may be wondering if they are allowed to ask for this kind of information, and the short answer is they are. Employees and guests can withhold their vaccination status when asked, but they then may forfeit the opportunity to work or visit that business.