In a reversal of previous recommendations, the CDC announced that individuals who are fully vaccinated against Covid-19 can forego wearing masks and social distancing in most indoor and outdoor settings.
“The science is clear: If you are fully vaccinated, you are protected, and you can start doing the things that you stopped doing because of the pandemic,” the CDC explained in a statement. This updated recommendation, which follows just over two weeks after the CDC alleviated mask requirements for fully vaccinated individuals outdoors, allows people who are two weeks out from their last Covid-19 shot to skip the mask in both indoor and outdoor settings, “except where required by federal, state, local, tribal, or territorial laws, rules, and regulations, including local business and workplace guidance,” the CDC wrote.
President Joe Biden marked the occasion by walking out of the White House—unmasked—for the first time. Biden met Vice-President Kamala Harris, also unmasked, in the Rose Garden, where he delivered a brief statement. He thanked the American people for their efforts to follow pandemic restrictions up to now and seek out vaccinations, noting that he is “pleased, but not surprised” to have reached this milestone.
“When your country asked you to get vaccinated, you did—the American people stepped up,” he said. “You did what I consider to be your patriotic duty. that’s how we’ve gotten to this day.”
In addition to foregoing masks and social distancing, fully vaccinated individuals can also:
- Travel domestically without getting tested for Covid-19 or self-quarantining after travel.
- Skip quarantining or getting tested for Covid-19 after known exposure to someone with Covid-19, so long as they remain asymptomatic.
Masks will still be required on planes, buses, trains, and other forms of public transportation traveling into, within, or out of the U.S., and in transportation hubs including airports, the CDC noted. Also, anyone who develops Covid-19 symptoms should get tested and self-quarantine, regardless of vaccination status, and individuals with weakened immune systems should still take all precautions for preventing Covid-19 infection.
In a press briefing from the White House Covid-19 Response Team, CDC director Rochelle Walensky, MD, noted that while these recommendations are being made at the federal level, it will be up to state, local, and tribal governments to determine whether they will follow suit at the community level.
“I think we need to understand that this country is very heterogenous—it’s not uniform,” Walensky said. “So, these decisions are going to have to be made at the local level, and I would encourage counties and localities to look at how much vaccine they have, how many people have been vaccinated, [and] look at how many cases are in their areas and to make those decisions with that information in mind.”
Vaccination rates have been waning in recent weeks, with providers reporting administering an average of 2.16 million doses a day nationwide—a 36% drop from 3.38 million reported in mid-April, The New York Times noted. As of May 12, the number of individuals who have received at least one dose of Covid-19 vaccine sits just shy of 154 million
It’s a good day for the country, [but] we aren’t done yet,” the President said. “We’re still losing too many Americans, because we still have too many unvaccinated people. We have to get to 70% of adults started on vaccinations… we have to take this pandemic and tackle it, not just here but overseas as well, to truly be safe in the long run.” Walensky and the rest of the Covid-19 Response Team noted that individuals who are reluctant to go without masks post-vaccination due to the possibility of breakthrough infections should feel free to continue masking. And, while those who have not been fully vaccinated are still required to wear a mask, the President noted that the federal government will not punish individuals for not complying. “It’s not an enforcement thing—we’re not going to go out and arrest people,” President Biden said. “But the fact of the matter is, I still believe the vast majority of the American people care about the safety of their neighbors and care about the safety of their families… if you’ve not been vaccinated, please wear a mask.” The Covid-19 Response Team and President Biden urged individuals who have not yet been vaccinated to visit Vaccines.gov or text their zip code to 438829 to find their nearest vaccination center. John McKenna, Associate Editor, BreakingMED™ Cat ID: 190 Topic ID: 79,190,730,933,190,926,192,927,151,928,925,934Author
