CDC Says Fully Vaccinated Don’t Have to Wear A Mask

There has been a major shift from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and it's good for COVID19 vaccinated people. They just announced Thursday that they are easing their indoor mask-wearing guidance for fully vaccinated people.

At a White House briefing, CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said people who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 no longer need to wear face coverings indoors or outdoors, in most settings. WOW, that's huge, and what a relief!

Quoting Walensky, “Anyone who is fully vaccinated can participate in indoor and outdoor activities, large or small, without wearing a mask or physical distancing. If you are fully vaccinated, you can start doing the things that you had stopped doing because of the pandemic. We have all longed for this moment, when we can get back to some sense of normalcy.”

Locations, such as health care facilities, will continue to follow their specific infection control recommendations, according to Walensky.

Fox17 reported she did say that if things got worse, that they might change their recommendations, but the more people vaccinated, the less spread. Walensky said if you develop coronavirus symptoms, you should put your mask back on and get tested right away.

As for unvaccinated people, Walensky said they remain at risk of falling ill with COVID-19 or spreading the virus to others.

Walensky clarified later on in Thursday's briefing that the agency still recommends that masks be worn while traveling, including planes, trains and buses. Masks should also still be worn in transportation hubs, like airports. She added that the CDC will soon be looking at all of its guidance and providing more specific updates soon.

Later on Thursday, President Joe Biden delivered remarks about the CDC's updated mask guidelines, during which he called the guidance "a great milestone" and said it was "a great day." He also said it's not ever a good idea to bet against the U.S.