The CDC recently updated the mask guidance for fully vaccinated to what I've been assuming for a couple of weeks now. In areas with high or substantial risk of community transmission, everyone regardless of vaccination status should mask in public indoor settings.
This means orange and red areas on this map.
This change in guidance was informed by recent data indicating that with Delta fully vaccinated may in rare cases become contagious and able to infect others unlike with previous variants. Walensky says that in their cluster investigations vaccinated infected are having similar viral loads to unvaccinated infected.
At the end of the day the unvaccinated are still considerably more at risk for infection, disease, hospitalization, and death with Delta according to the CDC. This guidance change is as much to do with the fact that much of the country is unvaccinated.
With previous variants, vaccinated infected had substantially lower viral loads than unvaccinated, such that transmission risk was negligible. This was the reason for the initial guidance that fully vaccinated did not need to wear masks.
It appears Delta may have changed that dynamic. Vaccinated infected may be a transmission risk with Delta. Hence today's change in guidance on mask wearing.
It is still the case that being vaccinated helps to reduce transmission though. Even with Delta, your risk of infection is reduced and thus your risk of transmission. And as always your risk of severe disease and death are substantially reduced.
In addition, the CDC is saying all students and staff regardless of vaccination status should mask in school this upcoming school year due to Delta.
And the last change is now fully vaccinated that are exposed to someone with Covid should get tested regardless if they develop symptoms or not. Previously fully vaccinated were only to get tested if they were symptomatic.
