• In today’s Recommendations for Industry, we discuss CDC’s updated COVID-19 recommended on the unmasking of fully vaccinated people – and TAG’s recommendations for a judicious transition. Read more below.
• A panel to explore WHO’s response to the COVID-19 outbreak has critical issues to WHO’s response which was complicated by global governments. The reports suggested reforms include:
  • A new global threats council should be created with the power to hold countries accountable
  • There should be a disease surveillance system to publish information without the approval of countries concerned
  • Vaccines must be classed as public goods and there should be a pandemic financing facility
  • There was an immediate request for the wealthy G7 nations to commit $1.9bn (£1.3bn) to the WHO’s Covax programme providing vaccine support to low income countries.
• In order to get the American public vaccinated, NPR and LYFT are starting to offer free rides to and from COVID-19 vaccination locations (from May 24^th through July 4^th). This is to increase access and encourage individuals to be vaccinated!
• Medicare has a new policy requiting nursing homes in the U.S. to report COVID-19 vaccination numbers of its residents and staff.
• Germany is warning of increased counterfeit COVID vaccines.
• Ontario, one of Canada’s province, Will be extending stay-at-home orders until June 2.
• A new study on dental procedures during COVID-19 have found that they are “no riskier than a drink of water”.
• An increasing number of states are incentivizing vaccinations, including in Ohio wherein vaccinated individuals “would be eligible for $1M in lottery prizes” and more.
• Because of definitions of “droplet” versus “airborne tranmissions”, WIRED explores how “The 60-year-old scientific screwup” helped COVID spread and kill.
• A recent study finds that the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine can neutralize B1526 and B1429 variants first identified in NY and CA, respectively).
• Public Health
  • An increasing number of complaints have emerged regarding JAMA and other elite medical journal’s handling of routine exclusion, minimiziation, and mishandling of race issues in medicine.
  • There are two MMRW Notes from the Field that have been released: (a) multistate outbreak of E.coli O26 linked to raw flour in 2019; (b) outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 in rommain lettuce, 2019.

TAG’s Recommendations for a Prudent Unmasking

In its May 13 COVID-19 update, CDC stated that fully vaccinated people no longer need to wear a mask or physically distance in any non-healthcare setting, except where required by federal, state, local, tribal, or territorial laws, rules, and regulations – as well as any federal, local business and workplace guidance.

While understanding the science behind the change announced by CDC and the federal impetus to allow those fully vaccinated to “start doing many things that you had stopped doing because of the pandemic,” TAG reflects on what this announcement means to the food industry and others.

Is it as simple as discarding the mask if you are vaccinated, but having to wear one if you are not vaccinated? Not really.

Immediate questions arise such as, “I have had COVID-19 and thus have antibodies – do I have to wear a mask?” If we require proof of vaccination, will it encourage counterfeit vaccine documentation?  The announcement sounds simple, but in reality, it is not. There is a danger that it will drive the population into two factions of those who have been vaccinated vs those who have not.

So how should we approach this next phase? TAG encourages some businesses to exhibit caution in the transition to complete unmasking, making the following recommendations as we strive to balance the risk of transmission with the risk of creating tension in the workplace:

1. Follow state and local requirements if they are more stringent than the CDC’s guidance. 
2. For private workplaces there are a few options to consider:
   1. Make masks totally voluntary and do not ask for proof of vaccination.
   2. Allow people to continue to mask based on their personal comfort level even if fully vaccinated. 
   3. Require masks for those who are not vaccinated. If people would like to work unmasked, use a “Trust but Verify” approach, asking for proof of vaccination.
   4. For office settings require everyone to wear a mask in common areas but make it optional when at your desk.

Whichever option you select, develop a written policy that clearly addresses the expectations on masking, as well as how you will effectively execute and enforce your policy.

1. For workplaces where physical distancing over a work-shift is not possible, we recommend that everyone continue to mask until the impact of this guidance on case and transmission rates in the workplace is better understood.
2. For public places like food establishments, there’s no ability to enforce customer behavior (or truthfulness in vaccine status). Ask fully vaccinated employees for proof, and post your policy on the door of the establishment (e.g., “Our unmasked employees have provided proof of vaccination.”). Again, employees who are fully vaccinated can continue to mask if they feel more comfortable in doing so.
   1. When communicating this change to your workforce or the public, consider language such as, “We know that many of our employees and customers may feel more comfortable continuing to mask, regardless of the setting. We encourage everyone to support and respect each other’s decisions regarding masking and the decision to be vaccinated during this time of transition.”

As these recommendations show, while the CDC guidance seems fairly simplistic, it can be very complex to implement in a business. If you have questions about its impact on your business and customized recommendation for your facility, give TAG a call. We can help.

• In Wednesday’s update, we discussed TAG’s weekly Risk Matrix and the significance of indoor activities in relation to COVID risk. Read More Here.
• The FDA has authorized the use of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine for adolescents 12-15 years old.
• The CDC has released good communication information for talking about COVID-19 vaccines with friends and family who may have be expressing hesitancy. As part of having these conversations, it is important to:
  • Listen to their questions with empathy
  • Ask open-ended questions to explore their concerns
  • Ask permission to share information
  • Help them find their own reason to get vaccinated
  • Help make their vaccination happen
• Furthermore, the CDC has released even more information that “wearing masks” DOES NOT CAUSE changes in “oxygen or carbon dioxide levels” when worn “while resting and exercising.” Studies conducted included hospital workers, older adults, and adults with COPD.
• The WHO has named the COVID-variant identified in India (B1617) as a fourth variant of concern, in addition to the B117, B1351, and P1 variants.
• COVID cases across India and Asia are rising steadily. This is cause for concern!
• Brazil’s president will allocated over $1B dollars to produce and distribute COVID-19 vaccines.
• In Canada, the future of AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine is in question due to blood clots. In fact, the provinces of Alberta & Ontario have stopped distributing AstraZenca’s vaccine.
• Starting next week, the UK’s NHS should have its vaccine passport ready for use and launch.
• In Monday’s Recommendations for Industry, we discussed continuing your public health worker protections for the control of Hepatitis in the wake of the lingering outbreak. Read More Here.

• COVID-19 infections are on the rise in South Asia. In India, and countries surrounding it (including Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka), COVID-19 cases have risen dramatically in the last week.
• The CDC officially declared that the SARS-COV-2 virus “is an airborne threat (NYT)” and highlights that “[the] airborne virus can be inhaled even when one is more than six feet away from an infected individual.” See the official update on the CDC’s site. (It’s in big letters now!)
• Some COVID-19 patients in India are developing mucormycosis, a fungal disease with 50% mortality rate, affecting immunocompromised individuals. There is thought that this disease is being triggered by the use of steroids and other COVID-19 treatments. 
• On Friday, the CDC updated its testing requirements for international air passengers into the U.S. to allow for (and accept) the use and results of at-home test kits, as long as the test is supervised by a telehealth service associated with the testing kit manufacturers.
• In the continued discussion on vaccine equity, there are countries whose people want vaccines, but the countries have none to distribute. This continues to highlight the inequities of vaccine distribution.