On Thursday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued new guidance, which no longer requires that fully vaccinated people wear a mask or physically distance in any setting, “except where required by federal, state, local, tribal, or territorial laws, rules, and regulations, including local business and workplace guidance.”
Following the CDC’s recommendations, Gov. Kate Brown issued a press release indicating that Oregon would follow suit.
“Starting today, Oregon will be following this guidance, which only applies to fully-vaccinated individuals,” said Governor Brown. “That means Oregonians who are fully-vaccinated no longer need to wear masks or social distance in most public spaces.”
While fully-vaccinated individuals will be able to enjoy the ability to go without a mask for the most part, there are some exceptions. For instance, fully-vaccinated folks will still be required to wear masks and physically distance in the following places:
- Public transportation
- Hospitals
- Health care clinics
- Correctional facilities
- Long-term care facilities
Oregon Health Authority will be updating its guidance to provide employers with greater flexibility to cut back on masking and physical distancing requirements for fully-vaccinated employees. However, it is not required that all businesses adopt new masking and physical distancing policies.
“The new CDC guidance makes clear that vaccines are the best tool to protect yourself, and everyone around you,” said Brown. “Vaccines are also the fastest way to get back to doing the things we all love, and to returning to a sense of normalcy.”
