Earlier this month, Amazon introduced that vaccinated warehouse employees (however not unvaccinated ones) have been now not required to put on masks. Now, the corporate is making face masks elective at its operations services throughout the US no matter vaccination standing beginning in the present day, in accordance with a discover despatched to employees seen by CNBC. “[This] is an exciting step in our path to normal operations,” the letter states.

Workers will nonetheless must masks up in states that mandate mask usage at work no matter vaccination standing, together with Hawaii, Illinois, Oregon and Washington. Other states like California solely require unvaccinated people to put on masks. 

The transfer comes amid a steep drop in Omicron COVID-19 infections throughout the US. Amazon confirmed that the discover was actual, however advised CNBC it nonetheless strongly recommends that unvaccinated workers proceed to put on masks. 

Amazon had beforehand dropped masks restrictions towards the tip of the COVID-19 Delta variant outbreak, however was compelled to revive them in December as Omicron started to surge. Unlike Google and different tech corporations, Amazon never required vaccinations for employees. 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) launched new guidance last week permitting round 70 % of Americans to take away face coverings in areas the place COVID-19 hospitalizations have been low. However, some medical professionals are still concerned about safety for the aged, immunocompromised and different susceptible people.