Organizations Urge for Clarification on CDC Guidance for Fully Vaccinated People
The new CDC guidance is creating a lot of confusion for organizations leaving them wondering how to go about moving forward with COVID-19 protection protocols in the workplace.
- By Shereen Hashem
- May 20, 2021
Nine organizations represent around one million union workers and experts in OSHA. The organizations sent a letter to the CDC and the U.S. Department of Labor, hoping to clarify what exactly the new CDC guidance for fully vaccinated people means for all workplaces. The guidance has created a lot of confusion among employers and workers.
The guidance says "fully vaccinated people no longer need to wear a mask or physically distance in any setting, except where required by federal, state, local, tribal, or territorial laws, rules, and regulations, including local business and workplace guidance."
This quote from the CDC could lead to workers fully ignoring COVID-19 protection protocols. OSHA states it will be updating its website in the process of reviewing the new CDC guidance, but no timeline has been given.
The organizations are pushing for the CDC and DOL to clarify what the guidance specifically means for employers and workers and how it could be implemented in the workplace. They are also offering to work with them to ease confusion to protect their workers and businesses.
According to a press release, the signing organizations are:
About the Author
Shereen Hashem is the Associate Content Editor for Occupational Health & Safety magazine.