ITEM TITLE:
Approval of Amendment No. 7 to Valdez Public Health Mandate 003 (Mask Mandate)
SUBMITTED BY: Mark Detter, City Manager
FISCAL NOTES:
Expenditure Required: N/A
Unencumbered Balance: N/A
Funding Source: N/A
RECOMMENDATION:
Approve Amendment No. 7 to Valdez Public Health Mandate 003 (Mask Mandate)
SUMMARY STATEMENT:
Valdez COVID-19 Unified Command recommends Amendment No. 7 to Valdez Public Health Mandate 003 (mask mandate), which includes the following changes:
• Clarifies the mandate will now applies to indoor public/communal settings (not outdoor spaces). CDC continues to recommend mask wear within indoor public spaces, even for those who are fully vaccinated.
• Edit the term “shelter group”, which no longer applies, to “household”.
• Extends the mandate until May 7, 2021 or until otherwise extended or rescinded. Local public health officials believe most, if not all, those in Valdez who wish to receive COVID-19 vaccination will be provided an opportunity for at least their first dose of vaccine by early May.
Please note, on March 8, 2021, CDC released new guidance for fully vaccinated individuals (<https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/fully-vaccinated.html>)
• CDC considers people “fully vaccinated”:
o Two weeks after receiving their second dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine (two dose vaccine series).
o Two weeks after receiving the Johnson & Johnson vaccine (single dose vaccine).
• CDC states COVID-19 vaccines are effective at preventing disease, especially severe illness and death. CDC is still learning how effective the vaccines are against variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus and how long COVID-19 vaccines can protect people.
• CDC states prevention steps, like wearing a mask in public places, helps stop the spread of SARS-CoV-2 and that these steps are still important even as vaccines are being distributed. CDC is still learning how well COVID-19 vaccines keep people from spreading the disease. Early data shows the vaccines may help keep people from spreading the virus, but CDC continues to learn more as more people get vaccinated.
• CDC states based on what they know about COVID-19 vaccines, people who have been fully vaccinated can start to do some things they may have stopped doing because of the pandemic:
o CDC states mask wear is no longer necessary when fully vaccinated individuals gather in indoor private spaces with other fully vaccinated individuals.
o CDC states mask wear is no longer necessary when fully vaccinated individuals gather in indoor private spaces with unvaccinated people from one other household.
o CDC states quarantine and testing are no longer necessary for fully vaccinated individuals following exposure to the SARS-CoV-2 virus unless they have symptoms or live in a group setting like a group home. Fully vaccinated individuals who develop even one mild symptom of COVID-19 should get tested and stay home away from others.
• CDC states fully vaccinated individuals should continue to take steps to protect themselves and others, by wearing a mask, physical distancing, and avoiding crowds and poorly ventilated spaces whenever they are (a) in public, (b) gathering with unvaccinated people from more than one household, and (c) when visiting with an unvaccinated person who is at increased risk of severe illness or death from COVID-19 or who lives with a person at increased risk.
• CDC states fully vaccinated individuals should continue to avoid medium or large sized gatherings.
• CDC states fully vaccinated individuals should continue to consider delaying domestic and international travel. If they must travel, they must follow CDC travel requirements. These requirements include wearing masks on planes, buses, trains, and other forms of public transportation and in transportation hubs such as airports and stations. (www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/travel-during-COVID19.html <http://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/travel-during-COVID19.html>)
• CDC states fully vaccinated individuals still need to follow guidance regarding COVID-19 prevention measures established by their workplace.