Vaccinated Americans can go maskless in most places: CDC

‘We have all longed for this moment,’ says the director of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) took a significant step in moving the United States beyond the COVID-19 pandemic by easing indoor and outdoor mask-wearing guidelines for fully vaccinated people on Thursday. The new guidance allows those who have been immunised to go mask-free in most places, the CDC announced, crediting data showing the real-world effectiveness of the vaccines that are being administered across the US. The CDC also no longer recommends that fully vaccinated people wear masks outdoors in crowds. “Anyone who is fully vaccinated can participate in indoor and outdoor activity, large or small, without worrying about physical distancing,” said CDC Director Rochelle Walensky.