CDC unveils new mask guidance for fully vaccinated Americans

Washington — The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) unveiled updated guidelines on Tuesday detailing activities that vaccinated people can safely resume, including attending small outdoor gatherings without the need to wear a mask. Walking, running, hiking or biking outdoors alone or with members of their household Attending small outdoor gatherings with fully vaccinated family and friends Attending small outdoor gatherings with a mixture of fully vaccinated and unvaccinated people Dining at outdoor restaurants with friends from multiple households.

The new "interim public health recommendations" detail a variety of situations in which individuals who have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 can forgo wearing a mask, but urged the continued use of face coverings in most indoor settings and in crowded outdoor areas. "Today is another day we can take a step back to the normalcy of before," CDC Director Rochelle Walensky said in a briefing by Biden administration officials. "Over the past year, we have spent a lot of time telling Americans what they cannot do, what they should not do. Today, I'm going to tell you some of the things you can do if you are fully vaccinated."