MAY 18, 2021
New Mask-Wearing Guidance for Health Care Settings
Vaccinated people no longer need to wear masks or eye protection or follow social-distancing guidelines that they be 6 feet away from others who are vaccinated, according to new guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Those guidelines would apply to vaccinated health care providers when in breakrooms and for work meetings.
Although the CDC has relaxed mask-wearing for vaccinated patients, it has not altered recommendations for health care providers when interacting with patients. Providers should continue to follow previous CDC recommendations regarding personal protective equipment when seeing patients, regardless of their vaccination status.
The Academy relies on guidance from the CDC for advice on extended mask wear and reuse, but recommends that patients wear masks or face coverings and that physicians at least wear surgical masks and eye protection during all ophthalmic examinations.