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Can HVAC steering assist stop transmission of COVID-19?

Wed, 14 Dec 2022 12:38:24 +0000

This article was written collaboratively by the Advanced Industries Practice. The authors include Stephanie Balgeman, Ben Meigs, Stephan Mohr, Arvid Niemöller, and Paolo Spranzi.

Although much remains unknown about COVID-19, scientists have established that the coronavirus is highly contagious and transmitted via air. Studies suggest that it primarily spreads when infected people cough, sneeze, or talk—actions that expel respiratory droplets containing particles of coronavirus in combination with mucus or saliva. If these droplets land on or are inhaled by others nearby, they could transmit the coronavirus.

Touching doorknobs, computer screens, or other surfaces on which droplets have landed may also lead to infection. The now-common guidelines for wearing masks and physical distancing—typically, by remaining six feet away from others—reflect these observations.

Questions remain, however, about whether tiny coronavirus particles, of about 0.1 microns in size, can become airborne and travel greater distances. Although heavy droplets, of about five to ten microns, usually travel less than one meter before settling, smaller droplets may evaporate, leaving virus particles, referred to as aerosols, suspended in the air.

A recent study demonstrated that coronavirus particles may be active for up to three hours after their release.

Although the World Health Organization (WHO) initially held that the coronavirus could not be spread through aerosols, it recently reversed its stance. The WHO guidelines now state that airborne transmission of the coronavirus may be possible indoors, especially for people who spend extended periods in crowded, poorly ventilated rooms.

The WHO’s turnaround came after the organization received an open letter from 293 scientists asking the organization to reconsider its position on airborne transmission.

Given the concern about airborne transmission, building managers, safety experts, and others might take steps to optimize ventilation and airflow indoors and limit viral spread. Some simple moves may help (see sidebar “Low-tech strategies for preventing airborne viral transmission”). But this may also be a good time to think about improving air quality in buildings by significantly changing heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems or by making physical changes to manage indoor airflows.

Control-setting changes and upgrades to HVAC systems

HVAC systems

can potentially spread a virus across rooms when high-speed air flows past an infected person to others, something that has been shown with Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome in 2004.

If airborne transmission is also possible with the coronavirus, a few control-setting changes and upgrades may help decrease the risk of spread through this route. If building managers take such actions, they might help their tenants feel more comfortable amid all the uncertainty about the coronavirus (see the sidebar “Earning the trust of tenants”).

One step that technicians could take involves configuring ducted HVAC systems to increase the rate of exchange with fresh fresh air from outside the building to reduce recirculation. Adjusting the settings may also help. Instead of shutting down overnight or on weekends, for instance, the HVAC system could run without interruption to increase the replacement of air and minimize airflow speeds.

In buildings with old or inflexible systems, technicians might consider upgrading HVAC hardware. Some of the most important might include these:

replacing fixed-speed fan motors with variable-speed ones to enhance the control of airflow and allow for a minimum setting that produces lower speed airflow
introducing sophisticated airflow-control systems, such as those that are sensitive to pressure, to allow for smoother adjustment of airflows
installing high-performance air-purification systems, as discussed in the next section

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Options for air purification

Numerous technologies can purify air. Filtration is the most common and typically the most effective method for HVAC systems (Exhibit 1). Other technologies, including irradiation and thermal sterilization, inactivate biological particles in the air without removing them. HVAC systems can also incorporate ionic purifiers, ozone generators, and other devices for cleaning air.

Exhibit 1

Filters in residential or commercial HVAC systems are usually installed either at an air inlet or outlet or within the central air-handling unit. Since external air that flows into an HVAC system may be contaminated, especially in metropolitan areas where buildings are in close proximity, technicians sometimes install a pre-filter for incoming air.

The mechanical filters in HVAC systems have tangled fibers that trap particles too large to fit through the openings. Mechanical filters have different ratings, based on the percentage of particles they remove, with the highest rated typically used in surgical or clean-room applications. Exhibit 2 shows selected filters and their ratings from organizations based in the United States. Ratings standards in other countries may vary.

Exhibit 2

High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters are most effective at removing small particles. To meet this qualification under the US ratings system, filters must remove 99.97 percent of particles of 0.3 microns. Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value (MERV) filters are assigned ratings according to their ability to filter out large particles (from 0.3 to 10.0 microns in size). MERV filters with ratings of 17 or higher are comparable to HEPA filters and may be referred to by that term.

Like the air-conditioning systems in most homes, commercial buildings generally have filters rated MERV 12 or lower. Only some air conditioners can accommodate HEPA filters, and technicians must configure them properly and replace them regularly.

Upgrading HVAC systems by incorporating higher-grade filters can be very expensive and is not always feasible. What’s more, even a HEPA filter will not eliminate all concerns about airborne transmission. Although a NASA study documented that HEPA filters can stop particles as small as 0.1 microns—the approximate size of the coronavirus—other direct research is limited, and the official US ratings system specifies their efficacy only for particles of 0.3 microns.

More research is needed to definitively determine a minimum filtration rating that will eliminate infectious coronavirus particles from air.

Airflow management

While studies are still ongoing about how the coronavirus spreads via air, evidence suggests that measures to change indoor airflow patterns could play a role in reducing transmission. Three main principles apply:

encouraging a vertical laminar rather than turbulent airflow
ensuring a slow, steady air speed
directing potentially contaminated air out of rooms and away from people

In-room airflows

The World Health Organization recently acknowledged that some evidence about in-room transmission is worrisome. In addition, after analyzing a transmission event at a restaurant in China, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) concluded that an asymptomatic patient transmitted the virus to families at two nearby tables (Exhibit 3).

Based on the restaurant layout, seating arrangements, and smear samples from air-conditioning inlets and outlets, the CDC found that the coronavirus was likely transmitted when strong airflows from a nearby air conditioner spread large droplets from the infected person. These droplets traveled more than one meter—further than usual, but less than the distance aerosols can typically travel.

Exhibit 3

Changing airflow patterns to create laminar vertical airflow—air moving in the same speed and in a straight path—may effectively prevent the airborne transmission of coronavirus particles.

This principle is already used to prevent the spread of particles in several settings. For instance, clean rooms and hospital operating rooms minimize contamination via sophisticated systems to direct air from the ceiling to the floor with laminar flow. On commercial aircraft, ventilation systems are configured to blow air vertically from ceiling to floor to reduce the spread of contaminated air within the cabin.

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Creating airflows that are close to laminar will involve far more than changing HVAC settings. In new construction, for instance, builders must include a sufficient number of air outlets. In existing structures, technicians may need to upgrade the outlets in HVAC systems—for instance, by adding some outlets in the space provided by suspended ceilings. In some cases, technicians may replace outlet covers, which are normally designed to mix and distribute air, with covers that produce laminar flows. For both new and existing buildings, the placement of air outlets is critical and must be based on planned occupancy, room architecture, furniture placement, and other factors that influence airflows.

In some cases, building managers might want to add physical barriers, such as partitions that separate open space, to manage airflows within rooms. They could also install in-room sterilizers to reduce viral
concentrations, but these increase turbulence and are thus recommended primarily for offices occupied by only one person.

Inter-room airflow

Some building managers and others may want to take steps to prevent contamination between rooms—something that could occur if the coronavirus is found to spread via airborne transmission. Technicians should identify how air moves through rooms before installing new devices or upgrading HVAC systems. Their evaluations could include a blower-door test, which involves creating calibrated pressure in a room and then monitoring the flow and leakage.

Several options, some involving HVAC upgrades and others focusing on simpler changes, could address any problems detected. These solutions might include installing doors or air curtains, generating overpressure above suspended ceilings, and sealing any gaps in them (Exhibit 4).

Exhibit 4

Individual protection

In some workplaces, close physical contact is difficult to avoid, which makes viral transmission risk higher. To date, however, no commercial products protect airflows within individual workstations, such
as a specific position next to an assembly line or an employee’s desk. Innovators may introduce some solutions for individual protection, such as those that involve adapting principles from airflow-control units or ventilation hoods, especially if the evidence for airborne transmission of the coronavirus continues to climb.

As economies worldwide reopen, healthcare officials have good reason to fear a second wave of COVID-19. Offices have traditionally accommodated large numbers of people and were designed to foster interaction and collaboration. Manufacturing shop floors sometimes require employees to work in close proximity. Schools, with their historically strained budgets, will find it especially hard to separate students from one another and from faculty. Hospitals have put off many elective procedures and noncritical surgeries for months and could begin seeing more patients in closer proximity.

Governments, trade groups, HVAC manufacturers, building engineers, and regulators may want to consider optimizing airflows whenever possible. Changes to ventilation systems, air-purification systems, and airflow management will probably be the focus of their work in this area.

Disclaimer: The document summarizes a preliminary view on best practices, potential design concepts, and approaches to ventilation and airflows that could limit virus spread in buildings. At this time, more research is needed on the airborne transmission of COVID-19 and the best measures for preventing viral spread. References to specific products or organizations are solely for illustration and do not constitute any endorsement or recommendation.

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Victorian Plumbing 1H 2022 Pretax Revenue, Income Fall; Backs Steering

Sun, 31 Jul 2022 01:19:25 +0000

By Anthony O. Goriainoff

Victorian Plumbing Group PLC said Tuesday that pretax profit fell for the first half of fiscal 2022 after booking higher costs and a fall in revenue, and backed its guidance for the year.

The UK online retailer of bathroom products said that for the six months ended March 31, pretax profit was 2.7 million pounds ($3.3 million) compared with GBP14.5 million for the first half of fiscal 2021.

Adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization–a metric that strips out exceptional and other one-off items–fell to GBP6.7 million from GBP20.1 million the year-prior period. The company said this reflected a reduction in gross profit margin, and the strategic rise in its marketing activity.

Revenue fell to GBP133.9 million from GBP140.7 million the year before. The company said this was due to lower demand in a tough comparable period resulting from market outperformance during Covid-19-related lockdowns.

The company said in February that it expected to deliver modest year-on-year revenue growth through the second half.

“There are well reported ongoing inflationary cost pressures and we remain acutely aware that our customers are also managing these pressures. The group will therefore continue its careful approach to price rises through the second half,” the company said.

Write to Anthony O. Goriainoff at anthony.orunagoriainoff@dowjones.com

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San Francisco Updates COVID Paid Sick Go away Steering

Sun, 19 Jun 2022 15:55:57 +0000

Related Practices & Jurisdictions

Adding to seemingly ever-shifting paid sick leave requirements in different places, the San Francisco Office of Labor Standards Enforcement (OLSE) has issued updated guidance under the San Francisco paid sick leave ordinance. The City approved the nation’s first paid sick leave ordinance in 2007. The new changes warrant attention from San Francisco employers, as they include a further limit on when employers may request a medical note for an absence and guidance on the use of sick leave for COVID -19 reasons. They also coincide with California’s enactment of a new supplemental COVID-19 paid sick leave mandate, retroactive to January 1, 2022.

Employer Verification of Paid Sick Leave

In San Francisco, as well as elsewhere, a common employer question is when they can request a doctor’s note from employees who claim paid sick leave. Typically, San Francisco has allowed employers to request a note in some cases. The OLSE previously issued guidance to San Francisco employers concerning this question: “Policies or practices that require a doctor’s note or other documentation for the use of paid sick leave of three or fewer consecutive workdays shall be deemed unreasonable.”

The new guidance now requires an absence of at least six days. The agency views policies and practices requiring a doctor’s note or other documentation for an absence of five or fewer consecutive workdays as “unreasonable.” Employers may require doctor’s notes or other documentation when an employee uses paid sick leave for more than five consecutive workdays (whether full or partial days). However, if an employee uses paid sick leave for COVID-19 reasons and is not under a doctor’s care, the employer shall accept the employee’s attestation of the need for paid sick leave pursuant to current Center for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines.

According to the OLSE, this updated guidance is temporary. The agency thus may revert back to its original position whenever the declared COVID-19 public health emergency ends, or the OLSE otherwise amends its guidance further.

Use of Paid Sick Leave for COVID-19 Related Reasons

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the OLSE issued guidance on when employees may use paid sick leave. In addition to the other permitted uses ordinarily allowed under the San Francisco ordinance, the OSLE added that employees may use paid sick leave in the following situations:

Public health officials or healthcare providers require or recommend an employee isolate or quarantine to prevent the spread of COVID-19;
A COVID-19 vaccination appointment or vaccine side effects;
The employee’s business or a work location temporarily ceases operations in response to a public health order or other public official’s recommendation;
Care for a family member getting vaccinated, experiencing vaccine side effects, or who is not sick, but whom public health officials or healthcare providers have required or recommended isolate or quarantine; and/or
Care for a family member whose school, child care provider, senior care provider, or work temporarily ceases operations in response to public health or other public official’s recommendation.

Eligibility for Paid Sick Leave

Now, in addition, the OLSE’s updated guidance clarified who is not eligible for San Francisco paid sick leave:

Employees who have been laid off by their employer are no longer eligible; other
Employees who have reduced their hours or eliminated cannot use paid sick leave to compensate for such reductions or eliminations. Employees who remain scheduled to work may continue to use their accrued paid sick leave for any qualifying reason for any portion of their reduced and remaining scheduled hours they are unable to work for qualifying reasons.

take away

In addition to California’s new statewide supplemental COVID-19 paid sick leave mandate, employers in San Francisco should review their paid sick leave policies and practices to ensure compliance with the new local rules. Employers subject to state and local paid sick leave requirements must comply with both laws, including when local ordinances are more protective. Employers should consult with their employment law counsel to understand the legal requirements in order to assure compliance.

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San Francisco OLSE Updates Steering concerning Paid Sick Go away

Fri, 08 Apr 2022 09:55:11 +0000

Related Practices & Jurisdictions

While many employers are concerned with complying with the recently passed statewide COVID-19 Supplemental Paid Sick Leave, employers should also be aware of the interactions between regular paid sick leave and COVID-19 related absences. As such, employers are well-served to stay current on the latest updates for San Francisco’s Paid Sick Leave Ordinance.

The San Francisco Office of Labor Standards Enforcement (OLSE) recently issued a temporary update to its guidance regarding San Francisco’s Paid Sick Leave ordinance and COVID-19. The following is a summary of the temporary changes made to that guidance.

Policies Requiring Doctor’s Notes

Under the temporarily amended guidance, policies or practices that require a doctor’s note or other documentation for the use of paid sick leave of more than five consecutive workdays (whether full or partial days) shall be deemed presumptively reasonableprovided an employee is using paid sick leave for a COVID-19 related reason and is not under a doctor’s carethe employer shall accept the employee’s attestation of the need for paid sick leave pursuant to current CDC guidelines and OLSE Rule 2.4, pertaining to potential abuse of sick leave. This change is temporary and only in effect for the duration of the COVID-19 public health emergency.

When the public health emergency ends, or upon a decision to revoke this temporary guidance, the guidance will revert back to the previous rule which stated that requiring a doctor’s note for the use of paid sick leave of three or fewer consecutive workdays shall be deemed unreasonable . The previous rule also stated that practices that required a doctor’s note for the use of paid sick leave of more than three workdays was deemed reasonable.

COVID-19 Related Reasons for Use of Paid Sick Leave

The temporary guidance sets forth several COVID-19 specific reasons for which an employee may use San Francisco Paid Sick Leave. Those reasons are:

The employee takes time off work because public health officials or healthcare providers require or recommend an employee isolate or quarantine to prevent the spread of disease.
The employee takes time off work for a COVID-19 vaccination appointment or vaccination side effects.
The employee takes time off work because the employee’s business or a work location temporarily ceases operations in response to a public health or other public official’s recommendation.
The employee takes time off work because the employee needs to provide care for a family member to attend a COVID-19 vaccination appointment, who is experiencing vaccination side effects, or who is not sick but who public health officials or healthcare providers have required or recommended isolate or quarantine.
The employee takes time off work because the employee needs to provide care for a family member whose school, childcare provider, senior care provider, or work temporarily ceases operations in response to a public health or other public official’s recommendation.

Finally, the guidance makes it clear that workers who have been laid off by their employers are not eligible for paid sick leave. Employees also are not allowed to use sick leave to supplement a reduction in hours. The guidance states that leave is only available to use for qualifying reasons when an employee is unable to work a portion of their scheduled hours.

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San Francisco quietly modifications little one COVID masks steering

Sat, 04 Dec 2021 17:43:13 +0000

The San Francisco Department of Health quietly updated its mask guidelines for children ages 2 to 9 years old on Wednesday.

The change was first noticed after a health department spokesman reached out to SFGATE regarding a comment that was made on Wednesday, “San Francisco should be like Europe when it comes to COVID, kids, masks and schools.” submitted by 41 Bay Area parents and residents included the line: “It is incredibly illogical that the SFDPH does not require face coverings for children under 10 years of age in public buildings, but does require care and attention for children aged 2 and over School environments where learning and socialization are key components, “and linked to the San Francisco mask guide page.

When three different SFGATE editors checked that line in the comment for fact on the Tuesday prior to publication, the city’s guidelines for children stated that children ages 2 to 9 must wear masks in facilities like schools or kindergartens, but only that children over 10 must wear masks in public buildings as shown in this copy of the page taken by the Wayback Machine in September:

The version of San Francisco’s children’s mask guide accessed by SFGATE editors on Tuesday.

San Francisco Department of Public Health

But on Thursday an SFDPH spokesman wrote in an email to SFGATE: “The comment incorrectly states that children under 10 are not required to wear masks in public buildings such as grocery stores and restaurants Years wear masks in these settings “and provided a link to the same mask page that now read that children aged 2 and over must wear masks in public buildings. The SFDPH said the change was made on Wednesday. The SFGATE-Op-ed was released at 4 a.m. that morning.

The current version of the San Francisco Mask Instructions for Children.

San Francisco Department of Public Health

From the original version, the line that says that children between the ages of 2 and 9 are only allowed to wear face covers outside of schools and childcare facilities “if they can” has disappeared. In addition, there is the requirement that “children aged 2 and over must wear face coverings indoors in public buildings” – which apparently represents a major change in the city’s masking rules.

When SFGATE asked SFDPH when and why this change took place, a spokesman pointed out the text of the city’s official health ordinance, which states, “Children between the ages of two and nine must be in situations where there is is possible to wear well-fitting masks “. Masks are compulsory for everyone, such as grocery stores and restaurants.

However, “as much as possible” reflects the original “if they can” language rather than the update “Must wear face coverings in public buildings”.

The SFDPH spokesman said the mask instructions page – unlike the city’s official health ordinance – “should be easily accessible to a wide public audience” and “since the language seemed to be confusing, we cleared it up.”

When asked by SFGATE whether the language in the official health ordinance would also be tightened to reflect the new language on the guidance page, the ministry said the “largely feasible” language only applies to “well-fitting masks” within the meaning of the ordinance , and that in indoor public spaces there has always been a mask requirement for children between the ages of 2 and 9, if you read between the lines of the health ordinance.

“Children ages two to nine may be an alternative type of face-covering to a well-fitting mask if their parents or caregivers believe it improves the child’s ability to adhere to this arrangement,” said a statement from the Department. “One such alternative is still a face covering, and it is still needed. An example of an alternative face covering is a face shield with a drapery on the lower edge. To recap, the health ordinance always required face covering for children ages two to nine years old in indoor public spaces. Children of this age should wear a well-fitting mask as much as possible. If this is not possible in certain situations, the child must still wear a different type of face covering. “

The mask instructions page has never – and still – made no distinction between “well-fitting masks” and masking alternatives for children, but the page says in a section below for everyone: “If you are not using a medical mask or cloth mask, other options” and “You must still wear something over your nose and mouth to block droplets, such as a 2-layer gaiter.”

The health ordinance itself does not require that face covering be worn when well-fitting masks are not possible; it contains only the line in the SFDPH statement that “Children may wear alternative face-covering if their parents or caregivers believe that this will improve the child’s ability to comply with this order.”

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Contra Costa Co. Releases COVID Security Steerage For Recall Voters – CBS San Francisco

Wed, 18 Aug 2021 01:58:57 +0000

CONTRA COSTA COUNTY (BCN SF) – Contra Costa County is encouraging residents to vote by mail in the September recall election to minimize the risk of spreading or contagious COVID-19.

According to Clerk Recorder Registrar Deborah Cooper, more residents who vote from home can vote those residents who need personal voting services in a faster, safer environment.

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Voters who choose to vote in person must distance themselves socially and wear masks.

Voting machines are regularly disinfected, and disinfectants are available to voters at all locations.

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“Postal voting protects voters, poll workers and our volunteers by limiting face-to-face contact,” Cooper said in a statement. “The places for personal voting will follow health protocols that can cause delays and queues due to social distancing. The easiest and fastest way to vote for this election is to cast the ballot, which we will send you by post, or in one of our official ballot boxes across the county. “

As part of its efforts to promote safe elections, the county is sending each resident a postal ballot with prepaid first class return postage. In order to have their votes counted, residents must return or mail their postal ballot by September 14th. Callback dial / # dial.

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Some concern CDC transferring too quick with new COVID masks steerage

Fri, 14 May 2021 23:22:45 +0000

Some health experts question whether federal officials have been too quick to move too quickly with relaxing mask recommendations to allow people fully vaccinated against COVID-19 to remove face coverings from most indoor and outdoor areas. And they suggest that California and local leaders be a little more careful about loosening mask mandates.

Dr. John Swartzberg, clinical professor emeritus in the Infectious Diseases Department at UC Berkeley School of Public Health, said, “There is good science to support changing our policy. On the other hand, I’m surprised they came up with it so soon. I would have loved to have had another month to see the numbers keep falling. “

If California starts allowing fully vaccinated people to be maskless in stores, then who would check if those without a mask were actually vaccinated? Will supermarkets really be interested in checking vaccination cards at the entrance?

“I can’t see any grocery stores that will confirm you have been vaccinated. It’s just not going to happen, ”said Swartzberg.

The United Food and Commercial Workers union, which represents 1.3 million key food and retail workers, also questioned the CDC’s move.

“While we all share a desire to return to normal mask-free conditions, today’s CDC guidelines are confusing and fail to take into account how this will affect key workers who are often exposed to those who are not vaccinated and who refuse to use masks wear, ”said Marc Perrone, the union’s international president said in a statement. “Elementary workers are still forced to play masked police for buyers. … Should they become the vaccination police now?”

However, grocery stores might choose to simply keep a no-mask and no-service policy.

Dr. Kirsten Bibbins-Domingo, chair of the epidemiology and biostatistics division at UC San Francisco, tweeted that the science used in the CDC’s recommendation was solid. “But who bears the brunt of implementing the policy?”

Some of the people who are less likely to be vaccinated in America are workers who were too busy working or looking after families to get the vaccine. “Are we failing important workers again?” She asked.

Some fear the CDC’s move will backfire and normalize if they don’t wear masks – with no vaccinations required. This could result in injury to people who are more likely not to be vaccinated, e.g. B. Lower-income residents and blacks and Latinos, some of whom would like to be vaccinated but could not do so because of factors such as feeling they could, lost work due to side effects of the vaccine or inability to get the vaccine from a trusted location relate – Reasons given in a recent Kaiser Family Foundation survey.

Other experts thought the CDC made a good call and believe the new guidelines will entice people to get vaccinated as long as they can see the benefits of vaccination.

“I know a lot of people say on Twitter that the unvaccinated will just say they’ve been vaxed. Some will, but many will not, they will see the vaccination as something more valuable now and look for it, ”tweeted Dr. Scott Gottlieb, former commissioner for the US Food and Drug Administration.

On Friday, Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, admits that more details are needed to ensure how indoor relaxing mask requirements work realistically in certain environments where it is not clear who is being vaccinated and who doesn’t.

“This was a first step in our guide. And what we really need to do now is look at each of our individual guides for each of these individual attitudes, for example in a school, daycare, or workplace environment: is this the right thing? “Walensky said” Good Morning America “on ABC’s.

In practice, Walensky also said it made sense for different states and counties to issue different orders from national guidelines.

“Many of these decisions have to be made at the jurisdiction level,” said Walensky.

Swartzberg has criticized state officials for reopening the economy twice too quickly in the past year, followed by a spike. The question is whether lifting mask mandates too quickly will result in California “being burned a third time”. It’s probably not likely, but it can’t be ruled out, he said.

Swartzberg said he preferred the view of Governor Gavin Newsom, who earlier this week proposed two different ideas for easing mask mandates in California. His second idea, mentioned on Wednesday, was to remove the exterior masks mandates next month, but possibly keep the interior masks mandates a little longer.

“Instead of taking giant steps like I took today from the CDC, we should take small steps toward the same goal,” said Swartzberg. “We’ll get there eventually. But I think we’ll get there safer if we’re more careful. “

Infectious Disease Specialist at UC San Francisco, Dr. Monica Gandhi, was among the experts calling on the CDC to move faster to lift mask guidelines and was surprised at how quickly federal officials acted Thursday. She welcomed the news and said science supported the new recommendations.

She said the mask lifting instructions for fully vaccinated people will be an incentive for those who may have put off the shot.

“People need incentives now,” said Gandhi. “I think this will help people on the fence get vaccinated.”

A complicated problem for local governments is that the CDC seemed to make its announcement without giving any indication of what was to come, and the result is that state and local officials are faced with the difficult task of addressing the difficult problem solve who is responsible for determining who is vaccinated and who may be exposed as a result.

LA District officials were surprised by the details of the CDC announcement, and it took nine hours for the governor’s office to issue a statement on the new guidelines, in a tweet on Thursday evening saying it was reviewing the guidelines and further, “all encouraging eligible Californians can get vaccinated as we plan to fully open again on June 15th. “

“We still have millions of people who haven’t been vaccinated – who haven’t even got a dose,” said Barbara Ferrer, LA county director of public health, Thursday. “And every day the numbers may be small, but every day there are people who get infected.”

As a result, it is advisable to take your time to ensure that rules are in place to keep people’s safety as safe as possible.

One of the questions officials need to answer is what this would mean for employees working on a site who for some reason may not be able to be vaccinated. According to Ferrer, the solution shouldn’t be to create a higher risk of virus spreading between unvaccinated people as LA County tries to keep the number of cases down and keep opening stores and expanding capacity.

The goal is to come up with rules “so that everyone can be pretty comfortable that we don’t have a lot of exposures that would be unnecessary,” Ferrer said. She added that, at least in the near future, “it may not be possible to lift all restrictions everywhere”.

On CNN, Dr. Leana Wen, a former health commissioner for Baltimore, said the CDC’s move made it easier for people who never got vaccinated or wanted to wear masks to go into stores without a face covering – which increases the risk for people who can’t be vaccinated, e.g. . B. Children who are too young to be vaccinated or immunocompromised people who are not fully protected by the vaccine.

“We are putting them at risk now, and I think we are taking ourselves even further from achieving herd immunity,” Wen said.

Here are the basics of CDC mask guidance:

Anyone who is fully vaccinated can participate in indoor and outdoor activities, large and small, without wearing a mask or physically distancing themselves.
Unvaccinated or partially vaccinated individuals are still asked to wear masks in virtually all indoor and outdoor areas when interacting with people outside their household who may not be vaccinated. (Members of a single household with unvaccinated individuals can be maskless indoors if everyone else is vaccinated.)
Masks are still required for anyone using public transport, including buses and trains, as well as airports and train stations.
The rules also apply to hospitals, prisons, facilities for the homeless and other institutional facilities.
Local and state rules can be stricter and stay in place.
People who have not been vaccinated should continue to wear masks and get vaccinated immediately.

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