With the rise in the Omicron variant, Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, using her executive powers, recently reinstituted an indoor mask mandate for the city.
The rules are in line with the latest guidance from the Atlanta-based U.S. Centers for Disease Control, which advising that people who are not fully vaccinated should continue to wear face masks and maintain a physical distance in indoor settings and in crowded outdoor settings.
Mayor Uses Executive Order To Re-Institute Mask Mandate In Atlanta
The health agency also recommends that fully vaccinated people resume wearing masks indoors in areas with high COVID-19 cases.
One of the main health protocols people may want to know is this: Do I still need to wear a mask when I’m out?
Do I Still Need To Wear A Mask When Out In Atlanta, Georgia?
The CDC along with the City of Atlanta have released guidance advocating that masks be worn indoors as well as outdoors in crowded areas.
Gov. Brian Kemp has passed laws that ban a mask mandate, so the local restrictions are limited in how far they apply.
Earlier in the year, the CDC caused controversy when it came out with the following guidance:
“Fully vaccinated people can resume activities without wearing a mask or physically distancing, except where required by federal, state, local, tribal, or territorial laws, rules, and regulations, including local business and workplace guidance,” the CDC’s guidance says.
This article will answer several important questions you may have about mask-wearing in Atlanta, Georgia during the pandemic.
Should I Still Wear A Mask Outside In Atlanta?
So you may be wondering if you should still wear masks in public in and around Atlanta. Here’s the deal:
- Private businesses — like restaurants and workplaces — can still mandate mask use in their establishments
- Government buildings can likewise still mandate that you wear a mask while inside their facility.
Of course, each of these rules may vary depending on the type of business or ownership’s preferences.
When Should I Wear A Mask Indoors During The COVID Pandemic?
You should wear a mask at all times when indoors during the pandemic. The only exception is when you are actively dining at a restaurant table or bar.
In addition to wearing a mask, you should also practice social distancing of being at least 6 feet apart. But if you’re fully vaccinated, this rule may be omitted.
What Does It Mean To Be Fully Vaccinated?
You may be unclear on what being “fully vaccinated” means. Here’s what the definition:
- 2 weeks after your second dose in a 2-dose series of either the Pfizer or Modern vaccine or…
- 2 weeks after a single-dose vaccine, such as the Johnson & Johnson shot
The reason for this time frame is because it usually takes a few weeks after vaccination for the body to build immunity against the COVID-19 virus.
Last Word
So should you still wear a mask out and about in Atlanta? It used to depend on whether you’re fully vaccinated or not. But now, in all cases, health officials say you should wear a mask.
Wearing a mask not only protects you, but it protects other people as well, and many of those you encounter my have compromised immune systems.
So you may be wondering how and were to get your vaccine in Georgia. if so, check this out…
Here’s Where To Buy A Mask Online And Locally
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