US: CDC Lifts Indoor Mask Guidelines For Fully Vaccinated

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention revealed new masking guidelines that say fully vaccinated people do not need to wear masks indoors. The CDC earlier announced that fully vaccinated people do not have to wear masks outdoors, which includes crowded outdoor spaces as well. “Anyone who is fully vaccinated can participate in indoor and outdoor activities, large or small, without wearing a mask or physical distancing,” Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said.

It is a major change in mask guidelines and recommendations, however, fully vaccinated people have to wear masks in some places. CDC guidelines say fully vaccinated people must still wear a mask in health care settings, airports, stations, and public transportation.

The federal mask mandate that was extended to September 13, says the mask should be worn in planes, buses, and trains traveling into, within, or outside the US. It also says the fully vaccinated people must wear a mask or socially distance in places required by federal, state, local, tribal, or territorial laws, rules, and regulations, including local business and workplace guidance.

Many business owners are still not ready to follow CDC guidelines and they do want their customers to wear a mask all the time during their visit to the store.

The lifting of mask mandate is said to be indicating promising data to demonstrate the Covid-19 vaccines’ effectiveness. There is still confusion among many on how one can determine if a person not wearing a mask is fully vaccinated without looking at their vaccination card.