Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
California Keeps Masks Rules At Work, Unless Everyone Is Vaccinated
San Francisco Chronicle: California Votes To Continue Requiring Masks At Work If Anyone Is Unvaccinated
If anyone in a workplace is unvaccinated, all colleagues must wear masks when in the same room, according to a new California workplace standard passed Thursday. But the standard allows workers to ditch masks when everyone in a room is vaccinated. The standards board for California’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health, or Cal/OSHA, passed the new rules as a stopgap measure after a marathon meeting Thursday, minutes after it initially rejected the same rules by a 4-3 vote, swayed by business groups’ arguments that they are too strict. (Said, 6/3)
Los Angeles Times: State Panel Recommends Vaccinated Workers Shed Masks Indoors
A California safety board Thursday recommended relaxing workplace safety rules for people vaccinated against COVID-19, meaning that on June 15, employees will probably be able to take off their masks in a room if everyone there is vaccinated. As the pandemic continues to wane and more people are inoculated against COVID-19, confidence has grown among officials that face coverings and social distancing are no longer a must for fully vaccinated Californians — though they remain important for those who have yet to roll up their sleeves. (Money and Lin II, 6/3)
In other news about masks and vaccination requirements —
WUSF Public Media: Long-Term Care Company Says Employee Vaccine Mandates Work
Federal guidance released last week that says employers have the authority to mandate that workers get vaccinated for COVID-19 is good news for some companies who had already taken that step. Atria Senior Living was among the first companies in Florida to voluntarily enact a vaccine mandate back in January, months before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission took action. (Marlow, 6/3)
The Washington Post: Should We Keep Wearing Masks After The Coronavirus Pandemic?
More than a year into a pandemic that has sickened tens of millions of people in the United States and killed more than 500,000, most people are eager to reclaim some semblance of their former lives. About half of the country has received at least one dose of coronavirus vaccines authorized for emergency use by the Food and Drug Administration. Infection rates are dropping. And federal health authorities have relaxed mask recommendations for people who are fully vaccinated against the virus. (Bever, 6/3)
Today: Do LED Masks Work For Acne, Wrinkles? Dermatologists Weigh In
As vaccinated Americans start to take off their face coverings in public, some are turning to a different type of mask at home in the hopes of achieving better-looking skin. LED face masks are growing in popularity, boosted by celebrities touting their use on social media and the general quest to get a bit of extra glow after the stresses of the pandemic. The devices promise to make a difference in treating acne and improving fine lines through “light therapy.” (Pawlowski, 6/3)
