City of Austin removes mask mandate from city facilities

On May 13, 2021, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provided new guidance regarding precautionary measures for vaccinated individuals; stating that those who have been fully vaccinated no longer need to wear face coverings. A person is considered fully vaccinated two weeks after completing their vaccine regimen; one dose for Johnson & Johnson; two doses for Pfizer and Moderna. Consistent with the CDC’s new guidance, the City’s Chief Medical Officer and Interim Health Authority, Dr. Escott, announced updated guidelines related to the ongoing wearing of masks, particularly for unvaccinated and partially vaccinated individuals.

Effective today, Friday, May 21, in all City facilities that are not subject to other requirements, masks are no longer mandatory. As a reminder, masks are an effective tool to prevent the spread of disease. We welcome and encourage continued use of masks, particularly for those who are partially vaccinated or unvaccinated.

While this change brings a lot of hope, it is important to remember that COVID-19 can be a debilitating virus and it is critical that employees remain vigilant, which includes receiving a vaccination. I am proud of the progress we have made as an organization. The City of Austin has vaccinated well over 50% of City employees. Additionally, many employees have been vaccinated through Austin Public Health (APH), their personal health care providers, or other local providers.

As we continue to reintegrate, I ask that our employees respect the personal decisions of their coworkers related to wearing a mask. Please keep in mind that you cannot tell a person’s vaccination status based on whether or not they wear a mask. Many individuals – even those who are vaccinated – may choose to continue wearing a mask for a variety of reasons, and I want to express my support for those that choose to do so.

Getting fully vaccinated and wearing a mask offers the highest level of protection against COVID-19. As we learned over the course of the last year, masks also help prevent the spread of many other airborne illnesses such as the flu. For some, a mask may even be essential to protect a family member with a compromised immune system who does not have the ability to receive a vaccine. Please keep these factors in mind as we return to our work environments.

Our City family has persevered through a great many challenges brought on by COVID-19 over the past 14 months. We have endured the worst together, and while we are so close, we are not completely out of the woods yet. The safety and wellness of our employees is always our first priority which is why we continue prioritizing employees receiving a vaccine.

We would like to reach herd immunity and are aiming to see 70% of our community get fully vaccinated. Join us in the fight against COVID. If you, a family member, or someone you know has not received a vaccine and want one, there are several options:

• Register for the next City of Austin Vaccine Clinic for City employees on June 1, 2021 at the Learning Resource Center at 5202 East Ben White, Suite 500, provided by Albertson/Randalls, please go to: https://mhealthsystem.com/CityofAustin

• Visit the City’s COVID-19 site (http://www.austintexas.gov/covid19) to learn more about APH’s walk up clinics and how to sign up for an appointment

• Visit Central Texas Vaccs (https://centraltxvaccs.org/) to connect to local providers in the Central Texas region that offer vaccines

Be COVID Wise – get fully vaccinated, wear a mask, and maintain social distancing for the highest level of protection from COVID. We each have the power to keep our families and community safe from COVID.

If you have any questions regarding vaccine options and resources for City employees, please feel free to reach out to HRD.Vaccines@austintexas.gov.