THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL IMPORTANT COVID NEWS DEVELOPMENTS THIS WEEK THAT DIRECTLY IMPACT YOU:
Yesterday, the CDC changed their recommendation for masking in indoor venues such as grocery stores. It is now recommended that you mask indoors, regardless of your vaccination status. The CDC went on to explain that this is due to the spread of the Delta variant from unvaccinated individuals. And while the vaccine is effective against hospitalization against Delta, it may only be 2/3 effective in preventing infections.
Several East Coast hospitals are now mandating Covid vaccination for all employees: Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center, NYU, New York Hospital, Yale Medical Center, and others. Last week, Northwell mandated employees disclose their vaccination status and will likely institute a mandate. A typical announcement is here.
New York City government workers are now mandated to be vaccinated or be tested weekly. Tomorrow it is expected that a similar announcement for federal government workers will occur.
There was a joint announcement of 57 medical organizations including the American Academy of Ophthalmology recommending that all healthcare workers be vaccinated. Not just tested regularly, but vaccinated. This is a very big deal, because it is a recommendation for all healthcare workers, not just those who work in hospitals.
Johns Hopkins Medical Center, which has been the lead academic organization following Covid, has published a highly informative page explaining misconceptions about Covid vaccination. If you are still not vaccinated, I urge you to read it:
In addition to evaluating your own health status and masking, I urge you to be particularly mindful of your exposures outside the office. While 70% of New Yorkers are vaccinated, among 20-30 year-olds, only half are vaccinated. If you are in a group of 10 people in their 20’s and 30’s, on average, 5 will be unvaccinated.
