clinical social work association

Today the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) announced new guidance on the use of masks indoors.  This guidance has a direct impact on the way LCSWs practice psychotherapy.

The CDC now recommends that people who are fully vaccinated can meet indoors without wearing a mask or physical distancing.  This is a relatively sudden shift from two weeks ago and is reflective of the increased level of vaccination that has occurred,  About 117 million US citizens are now vaccinated and 154 million have received one vaccine dose.  The recent expansion of vaccination for 12-15 year old children will further increase the number of citizens who are vaccinated.  COVID-19 variants should be stopped by the vaccines available.

There is no mention of whether building air filtration systems or in office HEPA filters are useful.  It may be a good idea to maintain the use of HEPA filters until herd immunity has been reached.

One factor that may lead to continued use of masks and physical distancing are for people who have immunosuppressed or weakened immune systems from organ transplants, cancer treatment or for other reasons.  This of course applies to us as LCSWs as well as patients.

Let me know if you have any questions about the recent CDC guidance on protections against COVID-19.

Laura W. Groshong, LICSW, Director, Policy and Practice  
Clinical Social Work Association
lwgroshong@clinicalsocialworkassociation.org