May 13, 2021 – Individuals fully vaccinated against COVID-19 will no longer need to wear masks or distances regardless of the location or size of the gathering, the CDC said Thursday.
“Anyone who is fully vaccinated can participate in indoor and outdoor activities, large and small, without wearing a mask or physically distancing themselves,” said CDC director Rochelle Walensky, MD, at a news conference Thursday. “We have all longed for that moment when we can return to a sense of normalcy.
“This is an exciting and powerful moment,” she said. “It could only happen because of the work of so many who made sure that three safe and effective vaccines were given quickly.”
The leadership of the CDC quickly caught on in the White House as well. President Joe Biden met with a group of Republican Senators Thursday to discuss an infrastructure plan, and all of them removed their masks as they gathered, according to the White House press pool.
Biden later spoke about the new CDC guidelines and what they mean for the country.
“You did what I consider your patriotic duty,” Biden said, referring to the millions of Americans who were vaccinated. “That’s how we got to this day.”
It’s wonderful news for those who have been vaccinated, said Biden.
“But if you haven’t been vaccinated … you still have to wear a mask,” he said. “We have come this far. Please protect yourself until we reach the finish line. As great as this announcement is today, we don’t want to give up. “
“After a year of hard work and sacrifice, the message is simple for now: get vaccinated or wear a mask until you do. It’s ‘vaxed or masked’. ”
Walensky said three large studies on the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines against the original virus and its variants helped inform the new guidelines. A study from Israel found the vaccine to be 97% effective against symptomatic infections.
Those who have symptoms should still wear masks, she said, and those who are immunocompromised should speak to their doctors for further instructions. The CDC continues to advise travelers to wear masks on planes, buses or trains. The guidance continues to require the wearing of masks in some indoor spaces, including hospitals, homeless shelters, and prisons.
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