IF YOU ARE FULLY VACCINATED
CDC has updated its guidance for people who are fully vaccinated. See Recommendations for Fully Vaccinated People.
IMPORTANT UPDATE FOR SCHOOLS
CDC recommends schools continue to use the current COVID-19 prevention strategies for the 2020-2021 school year. Learn more
Important update: Healthcare facilities
CDC has updated select ways to operate healthcare systems effectively in response to COVID-19 vaccination. Learn more
UPDATE
Getting vaccinated prevents severe illness, hospitalizations, and death. Unvaccinated people should get vaccinated and continue masking until they are fully vaccinated. With the Delta variant, this is more urgent than ever. CDC has updated guidance for fully vaccinated people based on new evidence on the Delta variant.
UPDATE
Given new evidence on the B.1.617.2 (Delta) variant, CDC has updated the guidance for fully vaccinated people. CDC recommends universal indoor masking for all teachers, staff, students, and visitors to K-12 schools, regardless of vaccination status. Children should return to full-time in-person learning in the fall with layered prevention strategies in place.

Steps Healthcare Facilities Can Take to Stay Prepared for COVID-19

Steps Healthcare Facilities Can Take to Stay Prepared for COVID-19
Updated Feb. 25, 2021
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Summary of Recent Changes

  • Added vaccination information for healthcare personnel.

Protect your workforce:

  • Get healthcare personnel vaccinated against COVID-19 to ensuring the health and safety of essential workforce/protect healthcare capacity.
  • Screen patients and visitors for fever, respiratory symptoms, or other symptoms before entering your healthcare facility. Keep up to date on the recommendations for preventing spread of COVID-19 on CDC’s website.
  • Ensure proper use of personal protection equipment (PPE). Healthcare personnel who come in close contact with confirmed or possible patients with COVID-19 should wear the appropriate personal protective equipment.
  • Conduct an inventory of available PPE. Consider conducting an inventory of available PPE supplies. Explore strategies to optimize PPE supplies.
  • Encourage sick employees to stay home. Personnel who develop fever, respiratory symptoms, or other symptoms should be instructed not to report to work. Ensure that your sick leave policies are flexible and consistent with public health guidance and that employees are aware of these policies.

Protect your patients:

  • Stay up-to-date on the best ways to manage patients with COVID-19.
  • Separate patients with fever, respiratory symptoms, or other symptoms so they are not waiting among other patients seeking care. Identify a separate, well-ventilated space that allows waiting patients and visitors to be separated.
  • Get Vaccinated against COVID-19 and maintain other prevention measures for you and your patients.
  • Consider the strategies to prevent patients who can be cared for at home from coming to your facility potentially exposing themselves or others to germs, like:
    • Using your telephone system to deliver messages to incoming callers about when to seek medical care at your facility, when to seek emergency care, and where to go for information about caring for a person with COVID at home.
    • Adjusting your hours of operation to include telephone triage and follow-up of patients during a community outbreak.
    • Leveraging telemedicine technologies and self-assessment tools.
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