• It's been a long, wild ride, as the world figures out how to live with the coronavirus and how we operate in our communities. 

• MODERN SALON worked to keep updated on new risks and recommendations so we could pass that along to you. 

• Here's some of the latest discussion--and your response to it--around new virus variants and prevention measures, specifically mask wearing.

With increase circulation of the highly transmissible Delta variant, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (Public Health) has issued guidance that strongly recommends everyone, regardless of vaccination status, wear masks indoors in public places as a precautionary measure.

In the week ending June 12, Delta variants comprised of nearly half of all variants sequenced in Los Angeles County. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) noted that Delta variants are now responsible for about one in every five new infections across the country, up from approximately one in every 10 the week before.

MEANWHILE, IN THE SALON

During the early days of the coronavirus pandemic, salon professionals across the country adapted to new realities as things evolved daily. 

There was strong evidence that wearing a mask indoors, especially in settings like grocery and retail stores, prevented the virus from spreading. In May 2020, we saw news report of a salon in Missouri where two stylists, positive for coronavirus, had been in contact with 140 people, and none of the guests at the salon became ill. 

Then, spring forward to May of 2021, and the CDC issued new guidance, lifting the mask mandate indoors for fully vaccinated invividuals. Response to this by stylists and salon owners was mixed; many continued to take a cautious stance. 

Today, news outlets like CBSN report that the CDC is holding to this May 20 lifting of mandates and isn't changing mask guidelines despite risk of COVID-19 Delta variant.

The CDC maintains that fully vaccinated Americans can go without masks in most situations, even though the World Health Organization recommended everyone continue to wear masks to slow the spread of the Delta variant. 

Fully vaccinated people appear to be well protected from infections with Delta variants, however people with only one vaccine dose of Pfizer or Moderna are not as well-protected. The smaller number of COVID-19 infections identified in people who are fully vaccinated have been mild illnesses.