Vaccinated People Can Go Without Masks Outdoors, According To New CDC Guidelines
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA) — Fully vaccinated people no longer need to wear a mask outdoors, except in crowded settings or venues, according to new guidelines released Tuesday by the CDC.
President Joe Biden's administration had asked all Americans to wear face coverings for his first 100 days in office. With that 100 day mark approaching on Friday, the Biden Administration is now relaxing mask recommendations.
Fully vaccinated people can now go without masks while exercising outdoors, attending small outdoor gatherings with a mixture of people who are vaccinated and unvaccinated, and dine at outdoor restaurants with friends from multiple households. A person is considered fully vaccinated two weeks after receiving the one-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine, or the second dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine.
However, the CDC still recommends people wear masks when indoors or at an outdoor setting or venue that requires masks, or at crowded events such as concerts. People should also wear masks at small indoor gatherings with unvaccinated people.
In a news conference, Biden said he hoped the relaxing guidelines would incentivize people to get the vaccine.
"If you're vaccinated, you can do more things, more safely, both outdoors as well as indoors," he said. "For those who haven't gotten their vaccination yet, especially if you're younger or you think you don't need it, this is another great reason to go get vaccinated. Now. Now."
The loosening guidance comes as demand has dropped for the vaccine. The number of daily doses administered fell from a high of about 3.5 million two weeks ago to 2.7 million on Monday.
California is one of the states that held on to its face mask mandate, even as Gov. Gavin Newsom announced that the tiered system of reopening may go away on June 15. But that mask mandate will change to match the CDC recommendations, he said Tuesday.
"After reviewing the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's masking recommendations, and with science and data as our guide, we are moving to align California's guidance with these common-sense updates," Newsom said in a statement. "While more than half of Californians 16 and older are partially or fully vaccinated, many others are still not vaccinated and the threat of variants remains. We need to remain vigilant and continue public health prevent measures – like wearing masks when appropriate and getting vaccinated – but the light at the end of this tunnel has never been brighter."
